OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE 


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OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE, 


The     Great     American     Sharpshooter. 


By    CAPTAIN    CARLETON. 


I 


GEORGE   MUNRO,    PUBLISHER, 
84  BEEKMAN  STREET,  N.  Y. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1873.  bj- 
GEORGE    MUNRO, 

In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Oomgttsi, 
Washington,  D.  C, 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 


CHAPTER    I. 

A  WELL-BEATEN  track,  worn  to  the  depth  of  six  In- 
ches, wound  across  the  prairie. 

An  old  hunter  would  have  called  it  a  "  buffalo- 
trail/"  and  would  have  told  you  that  it  was  made  by 
herds  of  bison  traveling  daily  to  some  well  known 
watering  place. 

Along  this  "trail"  a  single  horseman  rode,  on  a 
bright,  sunshiny  afternoon,  several  years  ago. 

He  was  a  youthful-looking  man,  who  wore  a  hunt- 
ing suit,  that  seemed  weather-stained  and  soiled. 

The  horseman  carried  across  the  pommel  of  his  sad- 
dle a  rifley  whose  shining,  well-varnished  stock,  indi- 
cated that  it  had  not  seen  much  service. 

A  horn-handled  knife  protruded  from  a  leathern 
belt,  by  the  side  of  a  revolver. 

The  rider  was  a  man  of  medium  size,  rather  well- 
built,  with  bright  brown  hair,  blue  eyes,  a  sparce 
growth  of  beard,  and  an  open  and  quite  pleasant  coun- 
tenance. The  freshness  of  his  complexion  suggested 
that  ho  had  not  been  much  exposed  of  late  to  the 
weather. 

The  horse,  jogging  along  at  a  moderate  pace,  was 
everv  now  and  then  checked  by  the  rider,  who,  raising 
him  sell  in  tho  stirrups,  would  scan  the  plain  in  a  scru- 
tinizing mtiiioer. 

Presently  ho  began  to  approach  a  strip  of  timbti, 
along  the  edge  of  which  ran  the  "  buffalo-trail."  As 
he  drew  near  the  grove>  his  attention  was  arrested  by 
the  peouiiar  cry  of  a  wild  turkey. 


10  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE, 

"  A.h  !"  said  lie,  in  monotone,  "if  I  can't  get  a  buf- 
falo, who  knows  but  a,  fat  turkey  may  be  bagged  ? 
Bless  me  !  out  all  day,  and  not  a  chance  to  discharge 
my  rifle  once.  It  will  never  do  to  return  to  the  fort 
empty-handed." 

Saying  this,  Harold  jGrlenclyffe,  for  that  was  the 
rider's  name,  turned  his  beast  aside  from  the  beaten 
path,  and  directed  his  course  diagonally  toward  the 
timber,  where  it  was  most  dense,  and  whence  the 
"call"  of  the  turkey  seemed  to  proceed. 

Throwing  the  bridle  over  a  shrub,  and  slipping 
noiselessly  out  of  the  saddle,  Glenclyff'e  examined  his 
rifle,  and,  assured  that  it,  was  in  proper  condition, 
moved  softly  to  the  edge  of  the  timber. 

Again  the  clear  "call"  of  the  turkey  was  heard, 
and  the  young  hunter  concealed  himself  behind  a  bush, 
in  hopes  that  the  game  might  come  toward  him  ;  for, 
knowing  that  these  birds  are  quite  timid,  he  feared  to 
move  unnecessarily,  lest  he  might  frighten  them. 

After  waiting,  however,  and  hearing  no  noise,  to  in- 
dicate that  the  turkies  were  on  the  move,  he  concluded 
to  change  his  own  position  a  trifle,  encouraging  himself 
to  believe  that  he  could  do  so  without  alarming  the 
game. 

GlenclyfFe's  efforts  were  rewarded. 

He  discovered  the  spot  where  the  turkies  were  con- 
cealed. 

Resting  his  rifle,  with  the  hammer  set  across  his 
arm,  the  young  man  cocked  his  revolver,  and  covered 
}  the  clump  of  hazels. 

"  '"Ware  thar,  ye  rascal  !"  cried  a  husky  voice  from 
the  bushes,  in  a  half-smothered,  cornpressi-d  tone. 
"  Hold  your  fire,  youngster.  Don't  plump  me  for  a 
turkey." 

Harold  Glenclyffe  was  stupefied  with  amazement. 
He  dropped  the  muzzle  of  his  pistol,  and  looked 
abashed,  as  a  man's  head,  covered  with  a  dense  mat  of 
reddish  hair,  was  produced  from  the  foliage. 

"Don't  ye  know  the  law  o?  the  perary,  never  to 
snoot  at  your  game  ontil  ye  can  see  it.  Put  up  your 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  11 

popgun  afore  \e  do  onroperable  miscbief  with  it.  If 
my  Mnd  sight  hadn't  been  as  good  as  ID y  fore  sight, 
ve'd  shot  inc  plum  centre,  tike's  not ;  winch  proves 
what  I've  allcrs  siikl,  that  a  cliap  can't  have  too  many 
eyes  an'  euro  on  the  plains.  Thar'*  game  ^  in  sight, 
howsomever,  if  yo  wants  to  shoot  it,"  continued  the 
unknown  hunter.  <*  It's  weightier,  too  than  turkey 
gobblers.  Hist!  this  way,  softly.  Walk  on  eggs, 
sort  o'  like." 

«  Buffalo,  eh  1"  asked  Harold,  in  a  whisper. 
"Baffler  be  shot  !"  growled  the  other.  D'ye  sup- 
pose that  Californy  Joe  ud  hide  in  the  hackberry  to 
kill  huffier*  Wagh  !  you  are  green.  W  liars  your 
mammy J?  Peel  your  opsticks  out  onto  the  perary  thar 
if  ye  want  to  see' the  game.  Thought  thar  was  a  wild 
turkey  in  the  bush  hyar,  did  ye  ?  Ha,  ha ! 

Harold  Glenolyffe  did  as  directed,  but  his  eyes  rested 
on  neither  Buffalo  nor  antelope. 

«  Indians,  as  I  live  !"  ejaculated  Glenclyffe,  turning 
to  his  companion.  "  Come  !  we  can  get  away,  even 
now  They  do  not  know  we  are  here.' 

«  Grit  away,  eh  ?"  said  the  hunter,  with  a  comical 
smile,  "  Did  ye  say  <  git  away  ?  " 

"  Assuredly.  We  can  mount  my  horse,  and  as  the 
timber  covers  us,  we  can  effect  our  escape." 

"  Clip  my  top-knot  !"  said  Joe,  with  a  chuckle. 
"  Ye  don't  understand  the  sitivation,  I  reckon.  But  ye 
will  larn  it  presently.'7 

The  hunter  now  applied  himself  again  to  the  busi- 
ness iii  hand.  He  drew  forth  his  "  caller,"  and  put- 
tin*  it  to  his  lips,  began  to  imitate  the  cry  ot  the  wild 
turkey.  The  "caller"  was  simply  the  small  bone  of  a 
turkey's  wing.  It  was  hollow  like  a  pipe-stem,  and 
Joe  tooted  upon  it  to  perfection,  sounding  the  "  call " 
loudly  and  briskly. 

"Are  you  crazy!"  demanded  Glenclyffe.  "There 
are  no  turkies  to  answer  the  call,  '  You  will;  no  doubt, 
attract  the  redskins  hither,'7 

"  D'ye  think  so."  » 

"  Certainly," 


1£  0LD  CALIFORNIA  JOB. 

"  So  do  I,"  laughed  Joe.  "  That's  what  I'm  tryiu' 
to  do." 

"  Want  to  bring  them  here  ?  In  God's  name*  what 
for  ?" 

il  Shoot  'em  I"  snorted  Joe,  eavagoly. 

Harold  Glenclyffe  recoiled  in  alarm. 

"  It  is  downright  murder." 

Old  Joe  shook  his  head. 

"  They've  been  tried  afore  a  jury  5  the  judge  has 
passed  sentence  5  I'm  appointed  executioner.  Hain't 
no  hemp  handy,  so  I'm  goin'  to  treat  'em  like  water- 
melons— plug  'em.7' 

Harold  scrutinized  his  companion's  face,  to  discov- 
er if  he  could,  any  signs  of  insanity. 

"Who  were  the  jury?"  he  asked. 

"  Californy  Joe,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Who  was  the  judge  f 

"  Californy  Joe." 

lt  And  you  are  sheriff,  too  ¥' 

"  Sartin.  Whar  timber's  skeerce  we  make  every 
stick  go  a  long  way.  Ha,  ha!' 

"  It's  murder,"  reiterated  Glenclyffe. 

"  It's  Lynch  Law,  an'  Jaw  ain't  murder/'  retorted 
Joe,  every  now  and  then  putting  in  a  "toot"  on  his 
bone  whistle.  "  Them  red  niggers  stole  my  ven'son, 
and  broke  down  my  bark  lodge,  an'  toted  off  my  buf- 
flev  robes  an'  peltries,  an'  they've  got  to  sweat  for  it. 
Impudent  !  snakes  alive,  ye'd  thought  BO  if  yehed  seen 
'em  brilin'  the  vcn'son  at  my  caiup-tire.  Greased 
Lightimi'  fo tohed  two  uf  'ern  a  jumpin'.  Gveaacd 
Lightnin'  is  my  old  rifle  thar. 

il  VVQ  tracked  them  varmints  yonder  for  forty-eight 
hours,  an'  I'm  tired  o'  gallopin'  ole  Crop-ear  to  death. 
Crop-ear,  is  rny  hoss,  hitched  in  the  timber  yonder. 
Neigh  '1  -No,  he  won't  breathe  for  two  hours  when  I 
tell  him  to  keep  quiet.  He's  watchin'  them  redskins 
like  a  hawk,  I'll  bet,  air  larfm'  to  himself  to  see  me 
fool  Jem.  They'll  come  hyar  presently  to  catch  tur- 
kies/  an'  they'll  catch  bullets,  Wagli  !  thar  they 
come.  If  ye  doivi  ^ant  to  help  me,  just  be  neutral ', 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOB.  1$ 

and  ef  yo  don't  want  to  seo  border  justice,  just  shut 
your  peepers." 

The  savages  had  heard  the  turkey  call,  and  ir*  an 
tioipation  of  a   savory  roast,  they  turned  their  ponietf" 
toward  tho  timber,  and  unslung  their   bows.     Harold 
xv.as  in  a  strait.     His  refined  nature,  unused  to    the 
rough  scenes  of  the  frontier,  naturally  shrank  from  the 
deed  of  blood  which  was  to  ensue. 

Easing  his  scruples  by  a  mental  protest,  the  youth 
watched  the  Indians,  and  found  himself  presently  com- 
pletely absorbed  in  the  novel  scene. 

California  Joe  loosened  his  revolver  in  its  sheath. 
Then  he  set  tho  hammer  of  his  rifle,  holding  the  gun  in 
bis  two  hands.  The  "call"  was  held  betvyeen  his 
teeth,  and  occasionally  sounded. 

The  Indians,  who  were  Sioux,  were  quite  fair  speci- 
mens of  that  mighty  nation  of  nomads.  Three  of  them 
were  oldish  warriors,  past  the  meridian  of  life ;  the 
other  two  were  young  braves,  out,  perhaps,  on  their  first 
expedition.  They  all  rode  small,  wiry  ponies. 

Considerable  caution  was  used  as  they  drew  near  to 
the  timber,  as  if  fearful  lest  they  should  disturb  the 
game  too  soon.  When  they  had  come  within  fifty 
yards,  the  hunter  ceased  whistling. 

"I'll  let  *  Greased  Lightnin''  call 'em  now,"  said  he, 
with  a  deep  chuckle  away  down  in  his  throat,  as  he 
drew  up  tho  rifle,  and  covered  the  tawny  breast  of  the 
leading  warrior.  "I'll  give  him  some  dinner-pills  as 
will  help  'ein  digest  my  venison  what  they  hooked. 
Wagh  !  liyar's  prescription  number  first." 

A  puff  of  bluish  smoke,  and  a  sharp  detonation  fol- 
lowed. The  Sioux  brave  threw  up  his  bow,  and  reeled 
from  his  glossy-haired  pony. 

"  Slid  off  so  easy,  'cause  he  was  well  greased,  I 
s'pect/'  chuckled  the  brawny  hunter,  as  he  throw 
down  his  rifle,  whipped  out  his  revolver,  and  sent  the 
nest  savage  sprawling  on  the  prairie. 

<:  Now  "we're  on  equal  terms,"  cried  the  huge  fron- 
tiersman, bounding  out  of  cover,  with  a  yell  that  put 
to  shame  an  ordinary  war-whoop.  "  If  tbar's  tlireQ. 


14  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

thievin'  niggers  that  California  Joe  can't  ka-wallop, 
he'd  better  peg  out  to  wonst." 

The  three  surviving  fSioux  had  already  whirled 
about  to  seek  safety  in  flight. 

Joe  fired  away  with  his  six-shooter;  but,  owing  to 
the  fact  that  the  warriors  hid  their  bodies  behind  the 
ponies,  and  kept  the  latter  in  rapid  motion,  no  particu- 
lar damage  was  done  by  his  shots. 

When  the  revolver  had  been  emptied,  one  of  the 
redskins  resumed  his  upright  position  upon  his  pom*, 
set  his  Imiee  in  shape,  sounded  a  fierce  and  prolonged 
yell,  and  galloped  down  in  his  most  gallant  style  upon 
the  sturdy  trapper. 

Joe  was  now  unarmed,  save  his  knife,  and  that 
weapon,  in  the  contest  to  ensue,  would  be  useless. 
But  the  more  dangerous  the  situation  in  which  an  old 
hunter  is  placed,  the  quicker  work  his  wits.  Joe 
threw  his  still  smoking  pistol  upon  the  sward,  put  his 
knife  between  his  teeth,  and,  unbuckling  his  belt,  jerked 
off  his  hunting-shirt. 

On  came  the  mounted  Sioux,  his  horse  snorting  with 
excitement,  and  the  keen  lance-point  gleaming  in  the 
sunlight.  When  but  two  lance-lenffths  distant,  the 
hunter  performed  his  coup  de  grace — his  master  stroke. 
He  suddenly  leaped  forward,  opening,  as  he  did  so, 
the  hunting  shirt  to  its  fullest  extent,  and  holding  it  be- 
fore him.  At  the  same  instant  he  uttered  a'n  unearthly 
shriek — a  combination  of  the  cry  of  the  jaguar,  the 
howl  of  the.  coyote,  and  the  growl  of  ihe  bear. 

The  result  exceeded  Joe's  most  sanguine  hopes  The 
unexpected  unfolding  of  the  garment  before  his  very 
eyes,  the  dash  forward,  and  the  scream,  so  frightened 
the  Indian  pony,  unused  to  such  demonstrations,  that  it 
shied  abruptly,  unseating  the  rider,  and  hurling  him 
headlong  to  the  ground,  the  murderous  lance  flying  a 
rod  away. 

But  the  warrior's  troubles  ended  not  here.  At  the 
very  spot  where  the  pony  shied,  the'*e  was  what  is 
termed  on  the  plains  a  "  buffalo  wallow  f  that  is  to 
say,  a  circular,  dish-shaped  hole  in  the  earth,  about 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  15 

•  *' 

twelve  feet  in  diameter,  and  peruaps  a  foot  deep  at  its 

greatest  concavity.  These  u  wallows"  are  often  found 
on  the  feeding  grounds  of  the  bison.  The  buffalo  de- 
lights to  wallow  in  the  fine  sand,  and  to  plow  up  the 
ear  til  with  his  horns  5  and  when  some  to  ugh  -horned 
old  hull  has  u  broken  ground,"  the  others  resort  to  Uie 
same  spot  until  the  hugb  hole  is  made.  These,  of 
course,  catcli  and  hold  the  water,  and  are  often  con- 
verted into  mud-holes. 

When  the  Sioux  warrior  was  hurled  from  his  pony, 
hj  described  the  arc  of  a  semi-circle,  and  landed  head 
first  in  the  "'  wallow,"  and  as  there  was  at  least  a  foot 
of  slash  therein,  the  brave  found  a  bed  as  soi't  -as  roses. 
Blinded  with  slush,  he  did  not  discover  that  Joe  had 
caught  up  the  abandoned  lance,  and  was  ready  to  I 
charge  upon  him.  Too  late  the  warrior  became  aware 
of  the  fact.  Joe  caught  him  on  the  I'-mce-point,  and 
drove  the  weapon  clear  through  the  redskin's  throat. 

"  Thar,  ye  pesky  deer  thief!'7  roared  the  hunter. 
u  Vd  like  to  see  ye  trying'  to  bolt  my  ven'son  steaks 
with  that  weapon  a-stickin'  in  your  gullet.  Wagh  ! 
more  mischief,  eh  ?  Clip  my  top-knot !  I  can't  pull 
this  lance  out.'7 

Fresh  danger  threatened  the  trapper.  The  little 
episode  with  the  last  warrior  had  consumed  time,  and 
seeing  the  opportunity  of  getting  the  scalp  of  the 
"brass  mounted''  hunter,  the  two  young  Sioux  rode 
briskly  forward,  with  arrows  notched,  and  bows  bent 
to  the  full. 

But  what  of  Harold  Glenclyffe  all  this  time  ?  He 
was,  as  the  reader  may  imagine,  no  uninterested  spec- 
taior  of  the  thrilling  sc<-ne.  When,  therefore,  he  saw 
the  two  fresh  braves  riding  at  full  tilt  toward  the  hun- 
ter, who  was  tugging  in  vain  to  extricate  the  lance- 
head  froii,  the  dead  warrior's  throat,  Harold  leaped  to 
to  his  feet,  and  dashed  out  of  the  underbrush,  rifle  in 
hand. 

The  Sioux  saw  the  young  man  advancing,  and  dis- 
charged their  arrows  with  marvelous  skill. 

An  arrow,  penetrating  Harold's  cap,  tore  it  from  bis 


16  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOB. 

head  just  as  be  was  pressing  tLe  trigger  ;  which  inei- 
dent  so  disturbed  his  nerves,  that  the  bullet,  intended 
for  the  rider,  buried  itself  in  the  pony's  body,  sending 
it  to  the  ground  oh  the  instant. 

With  the  celerity  of  a  cut,  the  dismounted  bravs 
leaped  up  behind  his  companion  j  and  the  twain  rodo 
away  like  the  tornado,  disappearing  beyond  a  swell  of 
the  prairie. 

"Ha,  ha  !;'  ejaculated  the  old  fellow.  "Obleeged  to 
ye  youngster,  for  that  last  shot  of  yours.  Five  out  o' 
seven  o'  the  pelt  stealers  have  gone  to  thai*  happy  lirmtin' 
grounds,  an'  the  '  majesty  o'  the  law  is  vindicated/  as 
they  say  down  in  the  settlements.  Whar  be  ye  goin', 
Harold  Glenclyffe,  which  I  believe  ye  said  was  vour 
name-?" 

"  I  am  going  back  to  the  fort  whence  I  came." 

"  Out  on  a  hunt,  eh  \n 

"  That  was  my  object." 

"Mought  raise  an  Injun's  ha?r,  an'  tote  his  sculp  ic. 
Big  game  that  would  be/7  laughed  old  Joe.  Then  all 
at  once  the  hunter  raised  his  head.  i{  Waugh  !  I 
thought  I  heerd  'ein.  "  We'll  have  a  quarry  for  you. 
Ye  shan't  go  back  empty-handed." 

'*  For  God's  sake  no  more  Indians  ?" 

"  $•&  Ha?  ha  !  Baffler/'  shouted  Joe.  "  Into  the 
«crub  quicker  than  scat.  We'll  hist  'em  shortly, 
Load  up  keerfully." 

-  It  vyas  a  snmll  drove   composed  of  several   hundred 
a  ni  in  alt-. 

;  ".Tii«-yrro  bound  foi  the  creek  after  water/7  said  old 
Joe.  k*  Don't  shoot  until  1  tell  ye  to.  The  best  crit- 
ters is  nigh  the  tail  eend  o'  the  string." 

In  less  than  five  minutes  the  "tail"  came  along. 

*'  That's  a  nice  buffler  cow,"  said  Joe,  pointing  to  a 
flue  animal  near  the  end  of  the  file.  "Put  a- ballet 
under  her  shoulder.  We  won't  drop  but  one,  for  thar's 
no  use  being  wasteful.  If  ye  be,  hunger  will  pinch  ye 
sometime.  If  ye  don't  drop  her,  I  will." 

Harold  needed  no  directions  from  the  old  trapper. 


6LD  CALIFORNIA  JOB-  IT 

He  was  a  superb  shot,  and  sent  his  bullet  into  th* 
very  spot  indicated. 

Joe  was  delighted,  and  as  the  cow  went  rolling  over 
upo4>  the  prairie,  he  leaped  ont,  swung  his  cap,  and 
scattered  the  balance  of  the  herd,  so  that  they  would 
not  tramp  and  bruise  the  fallen  beast. 

u  Now/7  said  Joe,  u  we'll  dissect  that  animile  inside 
o?  fifteen  minutes,  pack  away  the  rump,  a  few  o'  the 
fattest  ribs  an'  nice  chunks,  and  then,  if  yo  say  $o, 
skedaddle  for  the  fort.  Thar  ain't  much  time  to  spare 
neither." 

Old  Joe  made  quick  work  of  flaying  and  cutting  up 
what  he  wished  to  save.  He  rolled  the  choice  bits  up 
in  a  huge  piece  of  the  bison  skin,  and  strapped  the 
bundle  to  his  saddle. 

Whilst  engaged  in  this  operation,  Harold  announced 
that  something  was  in  motion  in  the  distance. 
Joe  looked  to  the  south,  and  saw  ti  dark  object  on  a 
ridge,  not  more  than  a  mile  si  way. 

^Bodtrkiri  on  a  boss,"  said  ho.  "Makhr1  signals 
with  a  bufflcr  skin.  Thai's  mischief  browin'  down 
thar,  likes  not.  Them  runaway  Sioux  will  git  thar 
friends,  and  make  it  hot  for  us.  Ricking  Bird,  their 
chief,  don't  like  me  since  I  cropped  his  ears  for -him. 
I'll  toll  ye  'bout  it  some  time.  It'll  make  you  laugh 
all  ovei.  But  we  must  mount  and  away." 
*  The  old  hunter  bounded  into  his  saddle  with  the 
agility  of  a  squirrel,  and  signaling  Harold  to  follow, 
dashed  across  the  prairie  at  y,  sharp  gallop, 


CHAPTER  II. 

BLUFF  VALLEY  was  a  spot  of  unparalleled 
grandeur,  and  of  wild,  picturesque  beauty.  The  en- 
trance to  it,  as  you  leave  the  adjoining  plain,  is 
guarded  by  two  enormous  bluffs  with  broken  jagged 
faces,  which  rise  perpendicularly  to  a  height  of  nearly 
five  hundred  feet.  These  two  bluffy  separated  by  a 


18  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

space  of  less  than  twenty  feet,  stand  like  two  giants 
glaring  defiantly  at  each  other. 

Having  passed  through  the  chasm,  a  beautiful  pros- 
pect greets  the  eye — the  valley  proper.  The  valley 
may  be  five  miles  long  and  two  wide.  A  stream  fiowV 
through  its  length.  This  stream  begins  and  ends  in 
the  valley.  Its  source  is  a  huge  spring,  its  terminus  is 
a  pretty  little  lake  with  a  subterranean  outlet. 

Along  the  streamlet  are  clumps  oi  trees,  and  carpet- 
ing of  the  most  luxuriant  verdure. 

One  fine  morning  Broken  Bluff  Valley  presented  an 
unusual  appearance.  Men,  greedy  for  gold,  Lad  in- 
vaded its  lonely  precincts. 

This  party  of  adventurers  was  composed  of  twenty 
odd  men,  among  whom  wete  Harold  Glenclyfi'e  and 
California  Joe. 

The  third  day  after  our  two  friends  had  reached  the 
fort,  quite  a  furore  was  created  at  the  station  by  the  ar- 
rival of  a  troop  of  men,  who  announced  that  they  \\ere 
going  into  the  Powder  river  country  in  search  of  gold. 

One  of  the  party  declared  that  whilst  a  piisoner  in  the 
hands  of  the  Nez  Perees  Indians,  he  had  accompanied 
a  band  of  that  tribe  to  JProken  Bluff  Valley  vhero 
those  savages  were  in  the  habit  of  resorting  each  M  a- 
son  to  procure  gold-dust,  a  certain  amount  of  \\hich 
they  buried  in  the  graves  of  their  warriors,  and  that  he 
felt  confident  of  iiis  ability  to  find  the  spot  again. 

As,  however,  the  locality  was  remote  ficm  any  fort, 
and  in  the  heart  of  the  hunting-grounds  of  the  Sioux, 
^  Crows,  Gros  Ventres,  and  Nez  Perees,  it  was  deemed 
*V>est  to  make  up  a  party  of  some  strength. 

Sixteen  hardy  fellows,  trappers,  squatters,  and  old 
miners  from  down  the  country,  had  arrived  at  the  fort. 

Harold  Glenclyfte,  young,  ardent,  and  impetuous, 
was  anxious  to  join  the  expedition  j  and  when  old  Joe 
announced  his  determination  to  unite  with  the  party, 
our  hero  had  no  more  scruples  in  the  matter. 

"Ye  must  decide  for  yourself,"  said  Joe  to  him, 
when  asked  his  opinion.  u  Thar'il  be  fun,  an'  thar'll 
be  danger,  too.  How  some  ver;  if  ye  goes  >\ith  us;  Til 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  19 

he  your  gardeen  angel,  an?  boost  ye  through  all  right, 
if  it's  in  the  pins." 

Having  unlimited  faith  in  Joe's  ability  to  ^  boost 
him  through/'  Harold  made  his  preparations,  and  with 
half  a  dozen  others  from  the  fort,  joined  in  the  gold- 
seeking  party.  The  journey  was  begin?,  successfully 
prosecuted,  and  in  due  time  the  adventurers  made  their 
entry  into  Broken  I31uff  Valley. 

Tents  were  pitched  upon  the  border  of  the  little 
lake,  "  claims  ?7  were  duly  taken  and  staked  off,  that 
there  should  be  no  room  for  disputes  j  then  all  went  to 
work  with  an  energy  that  was  rewarded  by  success  be- 
yond the  fondest  dreams  of  any. 

But  a  dark  cloud  soon  began  to  cast  its  shadow 
over  the  valley,  and  to  palsy  the  energy  of  the  busy 
workers.  In  less  than  a  week  after  their  arrival,  an 
event  occurred  which  produced  a  terrible  impression 
upon  the  minds  of  the  gold  diggers.  This  event  was 
the  death  of  one  of  their  numoer,  the  manner  of  his 
decease  being  too  fearful  to  contemplate  without  a 
shudder. 

Two  sentinels  were  posted  each  night,  the  men 
taking  turns  at  this  duty,  the  one  being  stationed  be- 
low the  camp,  in  the  direction  of  the  twin  bluffs,  the 
other  having  his  position  a  few  rods  up  the  stream. 
This  precaution  had  been,  taken  more  as  a  matter  of 
course,  and  in  accordance  with  universal  usage,  than 
because  any  danger  was  apprehended. 

On  the  fourth  morning  after  their  arrival,  it  was  no- 
ticed that  Gregg  Hardy,  the  sentinel  on  the  creek,"  did 
not  make  his  appearance  at  the  morning  meal,  and  a 
messenger  was  dispatched  to  bring  him  in.  Presently 
the  man  returned,  with  a  terror-stricken  face. 

"  God  help  us  !"  he  ejaculated,  as  he  bounded  into 
camp.  u  Gregg's  dead.  He  has  been  murdered." 

"Murdered!"  And  every  man  leaped  to  his  feet, 
and,  as  if  of  one  mind,  hastened  to  the  spot  where 
Hardy  had  been  stationed.  At  the  sight  which  greeted 
thorn,  all  started  back. 

Upon  the  ground  was  stretched  the  body  of  the  un- 


^  O&D  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

fortnuate  sentinel,  lying  011  its  Lack,  with  its  head  gem! 

The.  miners  gazed  upon  the  mutilated  corpse  of  ilicir 
lato  companion,  ..with  -feelings  of  indescribable  awe. 

As  they  recovered  their  composure  in  ebnio  c;t£ree, 
th.ey  began  to  con  verso  and  speculate  upon  the  i\\  pall- 
ing "eveutl  "  They  set  them  so  Ires  to  work  to  examine 
the -body,. to  examine  tho  adjacent  ground,  to  search 
every  nook  arid  corner  for  any  "signs "that  might 
elucidate  the  affair.  But  nothing  was  discovered. 
The  wlj'ole  affair  was  enveloped  in  impenetrable  mys- 
tery. ' 

After  burying  the _ body,  the  men  went  tardily  to 
work;  but  ail  dciy  long  there  \vasan  unwonted  silence 
among  them,  and  long  after  the  eamp-iiro  had  been 
lighted  at  night,  they  sat  about  it,  conversing  in  sub- 
dued tones,  upon  the  one  subject  that  superseded  all 
others. 

The  guard  was  doubled,  two  men  1  eing  stationed  at 
each  point,  charged  with  special  vigilance.  Harold 
and  old  Joe  occupied  the  post  held  "the  night  before 
by  the  murdered  sentry,  whilst  two  old  borderers  were 
stationed  on  the  lake  shore. 

Morning  dawned,  and  nothing  nn usual  had  occurred. 
All  felt  a  sense  of  relief  when  it  was  so  announced, 
anct  the  gold  diggers  went  to  work  with  decidedly  bet- 
ter spirits  during"  the  day. 

Two 'nights  succeeded,  and  the  utmost  tranquility 
prevailed.  It  was  now  pretty  generally  believed  that 
there  would  be  no  repetition  of -the  afiafr. 

Gold  was  abundant,  water  was  plenty,  the  work  of 
digging  and  washing  went  on  bravely  and  profitably, 
and  hope  ran  high 

The  original  number  of  twenty-two  was  restored  by 
the  arrival  of  a  new-comer.  An  individual,  who,  as- 
suredly, did;. pot  belong  to  tLe  party,  was  seen,  one 
Biouiiug,  coin-ing  through  .the  2f«p  between  the  bluffs, 
an3  approaching,  the •  camp.  In  a  moment  the  gokl 
seekers  were  in^a ;  ;ti;nv.ilt.  To  be.  sure  the  stranger 
Was  alone  and  on  foot,  and  seemed. to  carry  no  heavier 
v 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOB,  21 

weapon  than  a  fishing- polo ;  but  lie  might  bo  ikoavanf 
courier  of  a  host  of  others 

"lie's  a  pr<^]>6cter,"  tall  Gaspare!  Jones. 

-"  He's  a  .spy,"  said  another. 

"lie  has  discovered  our  digging,"  cried  an  old  miner 
from  California. 

"  Hang  tuo  lubber  at  the  yard  arm,11  roared  Tom 
Bridlcr,  an  old  salt  who  had  harpooned  whales  for 
twenty  years,  and  tiring  of  it?  had  deserted  his  ship  at 
'Frisco,  two  years  before  "  I  say  no  interloper!  hore; 
by  iho  great  sea-dogs!'7 

'*  'lire's  a  rope,"  said  Dyee  Richards,  a  hear  hunter 
from  the  valley  of  tho  Columbia,  as  he  tossed  a  buf- 
falo skin  lariat  into  the  ring. 

"Smother  him  \vid  a  blanket, be  jabbers!  the  dhirty 
son  av  a  spalpeen,"  shouted  Xloary  O'Clogeran,  an 
Irish  teamster,  who  had  run  away  from  the  fort, 
"Divil  a  maroy  I'd  show  to  a  bit  av  a  poacher." 

**Clip  my  top-knot !"  said  California  Joe,  drawing 
his  tall  form  up  to  its  fullest  height,  and  running  bis 
bony  fingers  through  the  dense  mat  of  fiery  red  hair 
which  crowned  his  head.  "  Thar1! I  be  no  liangin'  nor 
pinotherin'  o*  that  chap,  ontil  we've  heard  what  ho  Las 
**>  say  for  himself.  Wagh !  twenty  against  0110, 
Flint's  Indian  raid  Mexican  fashion." 

The  stranger  continued  to  approach,  oblivious,  or  at 
least  heedless  of  the  threatening  mood  of  tho  miners. 

lie  wz;s  a  young  man,  not  twenty  years  of  ag8,  with 
a  tl'in,  peaked,  weather-stained  face,  llis  eyesf  black 
as  night,  were  shaded  by  tho  heavy  eyebrows,  and  a 
thick  growth  of  beard  imparted  to  him  a  louk  older 
than  his  age  warranted. 

His  clothes  were  decidedly  primitive,  being  made 
up  largely  of  the  skins  of  wild  animals.  Approaching 
briskly,  lie  bowed,  and  said  iu  a  cheery  tone : 

u  So,  si-ran gm,  you  have  taken  possession  of  m^ 
fish ing-g round* ;  but  as  it  is  gold  alone  you  arc  after, 
you  arc  welcome.  Splendid  fish  here.  Fish  can  be 
eaten..  Gold  is  good  lor  naught." 


22  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

"Been  in  this  port  afore  f*  demanded  Tom  Bridler 
the  old  whaler. 

"Come  here  to  fish  every  month/'  said  the  vouth. 
"  W  liar's  yonr  home'/" 

"Three  leagues  hence,  araonc-  the  mountains" 
"Live  alone T 

"No;  Panther  Claw,  an  old  Crow  chief,  lives  with 
me.     Panther  Cla\v  calls  me  Kino-fisher." 

kingfisher/'  mid  old  Joe,  "  we've  come 
up  hyar  from  the  lower  conn  try  to  dig  syold  jri  this 
valley.  We  don't  care  a  continental  fig  for  all  the  fish, 
*>%,  Jeetle,  and  striped,  in  all  the.  oceans,  seas,  penin- 
sulas, and  ponds  in  universal  creation;  but  we're 
bound  to  git  the  gold.  Ye  say  ye  are  acquainted  with 
this  valley.  Has  it  any  inhabitant?" 

"Nothing  except  deer,  big-horn,  and  smaller  game, 
so  far  as  I  know.  Why  do  you  ask  P 

Old  Joe  then  informed  the  yonth  briefly  of  what 
had  happened.  The  new-eomek  deemed  stupefied  with 
horror,  and  declared  that  it  was  high  time  lie  was 
going  home  again  if  such  deeds  were  to  be  enacted. 

No,"  said  Joe  ;  "  ye  have  come  among  us,  and  we 
don't  let  ye  go  away  a/min  ontil  we  are  ready  to  quit 
ourselves.  Mebby  ye  will  blab  about  this  spot,  an' 
fotch  others  here." 

The  youth  protested  vehemently  against  any  impu- 
ations  of  bad   faith,  and  agreed  cheerfully  U/remain 
for  any  reasonable  time  of  his  own  accord,  provided  he 
was  allowed  unlimited  fishing  privileges. 

This  matter  settled.  Kingfisher  went  to  fishing,  and 
the  adventurers  turned  again  briskly  to  their  cradles, 
sieves,  and  picks,  and  the  utmost  harmony  prevailed 
once  more. 

CHAPTER   Til. 

SEVERAL  days  passed,  devoted  to  the  energetic 
prosecution  of  their  work,  and,  as  much  gold  dost  was 
accumulated,  and  as  nothing  occurred  to  disturb  the 
tran^uility  of  their  minds,  the  gold  seekers  were  almost 


OLD  CALIEOKS'IA  JOE.  £3 

ready  to  laugh  at  the  fright  to  which  they  had  been  at 
fir.it  subjected. 

One  morning1,  however,  just  before  dawn,  the  camp 
was  aroused  by  the  mad  shrieks  of  one  of  the  sentinels 
upon  the  upper  station,  who  came  tearing  through  the 
bushes,  as  if  pursued  by  a  demon. 

Each  tent  poured  forth  its  half-dressed  occupants, 
TV  bo,  armed  with  rifles,  pistols,  knives,  stew-pans,  and 
whatever  weapons  were  just  caught  up,  swarmed  about 
the  sentinel,  demanding  to  know  the  cause  of  his 
alarm. 

u  The  monsUr!  thj  fiend  !"  was  all  that  Barrel 
Winters,  the  sentry,  could  utter,  shaking  the  while 
like  an  aspen. 

"  Gome,  boys  i"  roared  California  Joe,  as  he-caught 
up  a  blazing  brand  from  the  camp-fire,  to  serve  for  a 
torch,  t{  let's  git  a  sight  of  the  critter.3' 

Waving  the  torch  in  one  hand,  and  .  clutching1 
"  Greased  Lightning/7  his  ril  •!<!  Joe 

darted  ahead,  followed,  by  sever:  o  daring 

ones  of  the  band. 

In  a  moment  they  had  reached  n,  and  were 

not  disappointed  at  what  they  sj 

Dan  ilarpel's  headless  trunk  biy  •  ^ed  upon 

the  green  sward,  which  was  bedabbled  with  blood. 

'•  Clip  my  top-knot  !?7  exclaimed  Joe.  "The  mur- 
derer has  lelt  a  message,  writ,  in  blood  P 

This  speech  brought  the  miners  crowding  about  the 
hunter,  in  estate  of  high  excitement. 

"Head  it,  Joe,"  cried  Harold  Glenclyffe. 

"  Wagh  !  tluu/s  easy  done,"  responded  Joe. 
man  what  was  half  a  schollard  could  do  that.?;" 

A  smooth  piece  of  stone,  very  thin,  about  a  foot 
long,  and  eight  inches  wide,  lay  upon  the  breast  of  the 
dead.  Joe  picked  it  up,  and 'found  that  the  tablet 
bore  these  words,  scrawled  in  blood,  as  if  with  one's 
finger : 

"Intruders  'begone!    Are  not  t^o  ivamings  enougli1v 

The  g-okl  seekois  we;  iked  at 

llivi  m  iuulc  to^tetci'ii;;. 


**  OLD  CALIFORNIA 

The  day  dawned  whilst  the  miners  yet  stood  on  the 
spot  of  the  mnrder. 

California  Joo  tossed  3;is  torch  a  way,  as  being  now 
nseless,  and  stooping  over  thg  body,  examined  it  most 
carefully. 

u  It  was  a  clean  shave,  and  done  at  ono  clip,  I  should 
say,"  he  remarked.  ""Wharfs  Darr  Winters  who  was 
on  duty  with  Dan  Harpel  $" 

'"Here,"  cried  several,  find  AYinten-',  who  had  hung 
back,  loath  to  approach  iho  body,  was  pushed  into  the 
ring  much  against  his  will. 

<;  Ye  was  on  duty  with  l)an,  eh  T  asked  Joo. 

"  Yes,"  stammered  ihe  sentinel. 

"  Ye  seen  the  monster  as  did  the  deed,  then  ?" 

"God  forbid.  I  Paw  fiothing,"  replied  Winters, 
glancing  anxiously  about  him. 

"How  came  that!  Couldn't  TO  sec  nothing  an* 
eeeh  a  diefful  deed  do  no  u^dcr  your  very  ncpc  i" 

Winters  looked  abashed,  hung  his  head,  and  re- 
mained sileut  The  men  grew  impatient,  i*ucl  angry 
oven. 

"  Fll  make  a  clean  breast  of  it,"  ho  said,  at  Iai?t, 
with  a  trembling  voice. 

"  It  was  nigh  morning,  and  we  had  seen  nothing, 
and  Dan  told  me  to  lie,  down  and  sleep  for  an  hour, 
and  I  could  help  him  in  his  washings  a  trifle  to  pay  \n> 
for  it.  So  I  wrapt  myself  m  my  blanket  ar-d  laid 
down,  and  soon  dropped  asleep,  leaving  Dan  rn  guard 

"Bimeby  sonietoing  struck  mo  RCIOSS  tLo  breast, 
and  I  woke  right  np,  and  found  Dan^  rifle  ly'in^1  r.cH-is 
me.  At  first  it  seemed  so  dark  that  I  conkhi't  seo 
anything1,  but  pretty  soon  I  saw  a  dark  object  lying  on 
the  ground,  and  on  soivicr  to  it,  I  foimoi  it  was  pool 
Harpel,  lying*  in  this  drearrful  condition.  Then  I  gave 
the  alarm.  That  is  all  I  know— so  help  mo  Heaven  !;' 

A  brief  silence  endued.  Then*  old  Joe,  ubo,  by 
common  consent,  waa  the  acknowledged  Nestor  of  the 
party,  said  : 

"  Thai's  ono  thing  to  be  did  right  away     Scatter  in 


OLT>  CALIFORNIA  J0E.  -* 

direction,  and  sarcb  for  the  tracks  o'  the  critter 
what  did  the  murder.". 

Tbe  men  bounded  to  tbe  work  with  alacrity, 
An  hoar  spent  in  the  most  diligent  and  bCiuti&Mng 
search  revealed  nothing. 

Tbe  party  gathered  about  the  camp-fire^  gloomy  and 
depressed. 

All    tinned    involuntarily  to   California  Joe. 

The  sturdy  trapper  stood  leaning  upon  "  Greased 
Lightning/'  bis  favorite  rifle,  with  the  gold  seekers 
grouped  about  him.  Six  feet,  one  inch,  in  his- stock- 
ings, which,  by  the  way,  were  Indian  moccasins ; 
sinewy  and  muscular,  his  brawny  breast  and  throat 
bared  by  the  opening  of  his  hunting  shirt;  his  keen, 
blue  eyes  peering  sharply,  yet  calmly,  about  tho 
throng ;  his  thick  shock  of  red  hair,  and  long,  flowing 
red  board,  giving  him  the  appearance,  as  he  jocularly 
expressed  it,  of  "  bein'  brass  mounted  ;"  his  deerskin 
belt  containing  his  revolver  and  knife  ;  the  cord  of 
twisted  sinews  about  his  neck,  from  winch  depended 
his  "  trinkets; 7?  to  wit,  a  bone  turkey  call,  and  a  tooth- 
pick of  the  small,  sharp  bone  found  first  above  tho 
bock -joint  of  the  wild  deer  ;  all  these  indicated  tho 
character  and  style  of  "  California  Joe/' 

a  We've  come  plump  up  to  the  question,  boy s/*  said 
tbe  old.  trapper.  "  To. stay  hyar,  or  clar  the  kitchen— • 
that's  the  matter  to  be  settled  now.  Wo  have  had  two 
tlmmpiii'  loud  calls  already,  un?  ef  we  stay,  we've  got 
to  shoulder  a  big  risk  o'  losing  our  heads.  On  toother 
band,  we've  got  hyar  a  leetle  the  richest  gold  diggings 
ia  the  w*ild,  I  reckon,  arr  it  goes  agin  the  grain  to  be  ., 
druv  out  by  whiteskin,  redskin,  or  any  other  varim-ht. 
Shall  we  put,  or  shall  we  stay  ?" 

For  a  moment  tbe  miners  were  mute/  Each  looted 
at  the  other,  but  not  one  opened  his  mouth. 

"  I'd  i^aly  like  to  onderstand  the  mystery  oj  the 
thing,"  said  Joe.  "If  it's  flesh  an7  bJood  we've  got  to 
fight,  I'll  not  knuckle  under  to  any  critter  as  walks  on 
two  legs  *f  but  if  we  find  that  it's  a  sperrit,  or  fiend,  or 
demon,  or  a  ghost,  or  a  spook,  or  suthi»'  aS  won't  ? 


26  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

" 
bold  a  bullet  or  a  knife   in  its  body,  then,  I  say,  we'd 

better  take  wLat  gold  we've  got,  and  vamoose." 

A  shout  of  satisfaction  arose  from  all  lips;  this  sen- 
timent met  the  approval  of  all.  The  wild  hurrah, 
however,  which  had  greeted  Joe's  declaration,  that  the 
mystery  should'  be  solved,  had  scarcely  diwl  away, 
when  a  clear,  distinct  voice  ea.me  ringing  through  the 
air. 

Intruders,  begone  /     Are  not  two  'warnings  emuyli  ¥" 
For  an  instant  all  stood  transfixed  with  amazement. 
Then  California  Joe  uttered  a  yell,  and  bounding  to- 
wards the  thicket,  shouting  : 
•     "Sperrit,  demon,  or  spook,  we'll  ketch  yo  now." 

The  others,  as  they  recovered  their  courage,  hasten- 
ed after  the  adventurous  trapper,  and  beat  up  every 
inch  of  ground,  and  searched  every  nook  and  corner, 
and  found — notHing  !  The  gold  seekers  were  dumb- 
founded. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  mysterious  voice  seemed  to  open  up  the  ques- 
tion again,  whether  the  valley  should  or  should  not  be 
abandoned. 

"  It's  clar  enough  what  ought  to  be  done,"  said  Tom 
Bridler,  the  veteran  whaler.  We  hain't  goin7  to 
ahake  out  our  canvas,  up  anchor,  and  leave  this 
goodly  port,  whether  it's  Christian  or  cannibal  as 
bids  us.  It's  time  enough  to  cry  'quarter/  when  tiie 

Iierny  is  on  the  main  deck.     This  mysterious  critter 
.reatens   to  scuttle  bur  craft ;  my  opinion   is   that  it 
has  got  a   hefty  job  on  hand,  and,  if  wo  stand  to  our 
pikes,  we'll  beat  him  off." 

These  bold  words  had  a  certain  effect,  -that  was 
deepened  when  California  Joe  made  his  speech,  which 
he  speedily  did,  at  the  urgent  clamoring  of  the  gold 
seekers. 

"It's  my  opinion,  boys,  as  I  said,  before,  that  weM 
be  a  set  o7  condemned  cowards,  to  guv  up  to  anything 
\ve've  yit  geeii  or  heard  Whatever  it  is  that  haunt 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  27 

this  valley,  is  as  much  afeerd  o'  us  as  we  "be  of  it.  I 
know  this,  because  it  daren't  show  itself.  An'  that's 
one  p'int  gained.  But  yit  we  ought  'not  to  hev  de- 
spised the  c.itter,  an'  been  at  all  careless.  We  hain't 
took  the  precaution  we  should,  for  self-defence;  but 
we  must  do  so  hereafter." 

"  Take  a  scoot  up  the  valley/'  said  Dyce  Richards, 
the  bear  hunter.  ''Let's  hunt  the  varmint  to  his  hole, 
an'  smoke  him  out.  Then  we'll  hnrve  peace." 

u  Now  ye  are  talkin'  like  a  man/'  exclaimed  old  Joe. 
il  We  will  scour  every  foot  of  this  little  valley,  and  see 
what  we  can  find.  If,  liowsomevery  we  don't  ketch 
the  owdacions  critter,  we  will  fortify  our  camp  as  best 
we  may,  and  resist  him  till  we  git  all  the  gold  we 
want/' 

This  plan  met  with  universal  approbation,  and  steps 
were  taken  t.)  carry  it  out  at  once,  and  the  party,  under 
the  lead  of  California  Joe,  shouldered  their  rides,  and 
started  on  their  trip  up  the  valley. 

The  party  moved  off  briskly,  old  Joe  and  Harold 
Glenclyffe  walking  in  the  advance.  It  was  the  first. 
time  that  the  gold  Beckers  had  made  any  exploration 
of  the  vicinitv  ]  indeed,  they  had  been  so  avaricious 
a:id  greedy,  that  they  thought  of  nothing  but  to  scoop 
op  the  yellow  dust. 

To  their  surprise,  the  valley  was  as  rich  and  fertile 
as  a  garden,  and  highly  beautiful.  Game  abounded  in 
profusion. 

As  tho  valley  was  but  five  miles  long,  and  two 
wide,  the  party  were  not  a  long  time  in  traversing  its 
£r:3a.  As  they  drew  near  the  upper  end.  the  lofty 
mountains  approached  -rapidly  to  each  other,  until,  by 
their  junction,  all  further  advance  was  slopped. 

A  beautiful  grove  of  trees  stood  around  a  fine  spring, 
which  gushed  forth,  making  the  stream  which  flowed 
down  the  valley. 

Th'?  basin  was  dish-shaped,  with  sloping  edges,  ex- 
cept upon  one  side  where  the  water  leaped  up  against 
an  escarped  sandstone.  This  sandstone  rose  with  a 
broad,  smooth  face,  to  the  height  of  ten  feet  above  tho 


"*8  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE 

•water's  level,  and  upon  the  polished  surface  thus  pre- 
sented, were  carved,  in  rude  outlines,  certain  hiero- 
glyphics. As  well  as  they  could  be  deciphered,  they 
•were  intended  to  represent  an  Indian  chief,1  with  a  long 
lance  in  bis  liandti,  driving  a  grizzly  bear  into  the 
eavern  in  iho  rocks.  From  the  fact  that  tlio  cuttings 
^and  tracery  were  worn,  and  in  spots  nearly  obliterated, 
it  was  concluded  that  the  work  must  have  been  douo 
years  before. 

"  See  how  the  spring  is  beginning  to  boil,71  said 
Harold  Glenclyffe. 

"An',  by  me  sowl  I"  cried  Rory  O'Clogeran,  "look 
an'  tell  me  if  the  wather  isn't  rising  share?7 

"Yaw,  py  dunder  !"  ejaculated  Hans,  "dat  ish  shust 
so ;  und  see  how  de  vassar  begins  to  stheam  oop  liko 
der  dnyvil.  Vat  in  der  fury  does  dish  all  mean  f 

^"It  will  wash  off  the  red  niggur's  feet  pooty  goon," 
said  Joe,  "if  it  keeps  on  rising;  Why,  it  steamg  UD 
liko  a  boilin1  pot." 

The  appearance  of  the  beautiful  spring  had  under- 
gone a  remarkable  change,  even  during  the  brief  pe- 
riod that  the  gold  seekers  had  spent  in  looking  at  it, 

The  water  rose  rapidly,  filled  np  the  basin,  and 
poured  fiercely  out  into  the  creek,  until  it  looked  ex- 
actly as  old  Joe  expressed  it — "  like  a  big  pot  a-boil- 
in1  over." 

This  commotion  of  the  waters  grew  more  violent 
each  moment.  Jets  of  spray,  as  if  impelled  by  some 
bidden  force,  were  sent  whirling  into  the  air,  to  the 
height  of  fifteen  feet,  and  presently  a  cloud  of  steam 
and  vapor  hung  like  a  canopy  over  the  entire  spot. 

At  that  moment  a  roar  like  the  explosion  of  a  can- 
non fairly  shook  the  earth  beneath  ;  the  water  was 
sent  aloft  in  showers  ;  a  foul  odor  impregnated  the  air. 
The  Dutchman  who  bad  been  smoking  his  pipe  at  that 
ln**ftftt,  dropped  it  at  his  feet,  and  as  the  burning  to- 
bacco  fell  upon  the  ground,  a  blue-colored  flame 
leaped  up  a  foot  high  and  spread  all  along  the  edge  of 
the  spring,  giving  a  most  unearthly  appearance  to  the 
immediate  surroundings. 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE  » 

And  then  a  clear  distinct  voice  was  beard,  issuing 
apparently  from  the  cloud  of  inist  and  vapor  which 
eauopied  the  spring. 

"inbrufers  begone  /    Are  not  two  warnings  enough  Tf 

With  a  howl,  like  that  of  a  mad  dog,  the  Irishman 
full  upon  hu  face,  prostrated  by  fright;  thereat  of  the 
band  trembled  with  terror,  except,  perhaps,  old  Joe. 

On  the  contrary,  he  drew  up  "  Greased  Lightning/' 
his  ever  trusty  rifle,  and  taking  a  hasty  aim,  sent  a 
bullet  whizzing  into  the  spray  cloud,  whence  the  mys- 
terious voice  came. 

A  laugh,  wild  and  prolonged,  and  full  of  derision, 
burst  from  the  dense  vapor  overhead. 

This  was  too  much  for  flesh  and  blood,  and  the 
greater  portion  of  the  body  started  on  a  run  down  the 
valley,  old  Joe,  Harold,  and  Hans  following  leisurely, 
the  former  expressing  his  sentiments  in  terms  more 
forcible  than  elegant. 

This  retrograde  movement  on  the  part  of  the  trap- 
pers di  I  not  COD  tin  uo  long. 

"  What's  the  use  o*  showiV  the  white  feather?"  said 
tho  old  hunter  in  an  angry  and  derisive  tone,  "  ye 
hain't  tho  pluck  o"  a  pack  c/  coyotes." 

"•But,"  said  Winters,  in  an  apologetic  tone,  "we 
caa't  bo  expected  to  fight  against  ghosts  and  invisible 
d'jnvms.  Show  us  our  enemy,  and  you  may  scalp  me 
if  I'll  run  a  step  ;  but  dang  it  !  I'll  admit  that  I'm 
afraid  of  creatures  that  no  eye  can  see." 

"  And  creatures  that  make  mountain  springs  to  boil 
like  pots,  and  make  the  earth  tremble,  and  its  depths 
to  roar  like  thunder,"  added  Gasper  Jones,  with 
great  on  erg  v. 

"But  my  friends,"  said  Harold  Glenclyffo ;  "I  am 
quite  sure  that  all  these  things  which  seemed  so  mar* 
velous,  may  be  explained  on  scientific  principles* 
"•  There  is'  absolutely  nothing  supernatural  about  it 
at  alh" 

u  How  do  yon  account  for  them  ?"  asked  Winters. 

"  Listen  a  moment,  until  I  cun  explain  them/  said 


30  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

Glenelyffe,  with  an  air  of  a  savant  fresh  from  the  halls  of 
Harvard  or  of  Yale. 

"The  spring  itself  is  no  doubt  what  is  called  by 
scientific  men  a  hot  spring  There  are  many  of  them 
in  various  parts  of  the  country.  It  is  also  "an  inter- 
mittent spring,  or  partially  so  at  least;  that  is,  it  flows 
at  certain  periods  more  exuberantly  than  at  others.  I 
admit  that  it  is  a  wonderful  specimen  of  the  kind,  and, 
therefore,  somewhat  marvelous. 

"  Why  it  should  send  forth  now  cold  and  now  hot 
water,  I  know  not,  but  doubtless  there  are  wise  men 
who  could  explain  even  thai;. 

"  As  for  the  subterranean  noises,  they  are,  no  doubt, 
the  premonitions  of  earthquake  tendencies." 

"  Bully  !"  snorted  California  Joe.  "  Ye  ought  to 
hev  been  boss  o?  a  fust  class  academy,  such  as  1  oncet 
taught  in  the  States,  when  I  was  a  young  sprig  o'  a 
gallant." 

Whilst  the  party  were  debating  what  they  should  do, 
a  messenger  arrived  from  below,  having  been  sent  on 
the  swiftest  horse  to  notify  the  gold  seekers  that 
strangers  were  in  the  valley. 

"  Who  are  they  f"  asked  Joe. 

a  Four  persons — three  men  and  a  woman/? 

"lied  or  white?" 

"  They  are  white.  One  of  them  gives  his  name  as 
Rowdy  Bob,  and  says  he  knows  you  well.'' 

"  Clip  my  top-knot  ?'  ejaculated  California  Joe. 
"  Can  it  be  that  Rowdy  Bob  is  thar?  Whar  did  ha 
come  from  ?  Who  are  with  him  ?" 

"I  know  not/  said  the  messenger.  uDyco 
Richards  thought  you  had  better  come  back  to  camp/' 

^  Wao-h  P'  said  "joe.  "  If  Rowdy  Bob  is  down  thar, 
he's  wtith  his  weight  in  wildcats  for  fightiu'  Injuns  an' 
what  not.  We'll  go  down,  boys,  but  its  my  opinyun 
that  we've  got  to  solve  this  mystei;y  pooty  soon,  or  else 
lose  some  more  heads.  As  IVc  only  got  one/I  don't 
L:eer  to  spare  that.  Back  to  camp  it  is,  if  ye  say  so,  I 
can  stand  it  if  the  rest  of  .ye  can." 

All  shouted  an  approval  except  Harold  and  Hans. 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  31 

Then  the  party  turned  their  backs  on  the  mysterious 
spring*,  and  inarched  down  the  valley. 

"  W ho,  pray  toll,  is  this  man,  Rowdy  Bob  ?"  asked 
Harold  of  Joe,  as  they  approached  the  camp.  "You 
seem  to  set  considerable  value  upon  him." 

a  He,  he  !"  laughed  Joe,  who  was  gradually  coming 
into  a  better  humor.  u  He's  a  reg'iar  genewine  penny 
buster ;  one  o'  the  jolliest  old  coveys  ye  ever  seed. 
Ye  will  like  him  a  heap.  I  think  lots  o'*hi,n  because 
he  saved  my  life  wonst. 

"  I  was  him  tin'  a  grizzly  one  clay  some  years  ago, 
up  in  the  Wind  River  Mountains,  an'  Jist  as  I  thought 
I  was  goin'  to  ketch  up  with  the  critter,  I  wentkerchug 
head  over  heels  down  a  precipice,  some  twenty  feet 
high,  and  brought  up  in  a  deep  hole.  The  hole  was 
just  big*  enough  to  let  your  uncle  slide  in,  an?  about 
five  fjet  deep.  Thar  wouldn't  hev  been  no  trouble 
only  I  went  in  slick  as  a  greased  bullet,  head  fust. 
Blmeby  the  blood  run  into  my  head  so  tluit  I  fainted, 
an'  when  I  came  to  I  was  lyitr3  on  my  back  on  the 
rooks,  with  Rowdy  Bob  playing'  doctor.  He  had 
conao  along  arter  the  same  bear,  an'  seein'  my  heels  a 
sttakin'  out,  yanked  yer  uncle  up  into  daylight.  But 
hyar  wo  IK-  at  camp,  an'  ye  can  have  an  opportunity"  to 
jtf-lge  o7  Rowdy's  merits  for  yerself.  Wagh  !  yonder 
he  coiuios  as  he  allus  does,  with  a  yell  and  a  jump." 


CHAPTER  V. 

A  STTOTIT,  stubT>y  fellow  was  Rowdy  Bob.  He  was 
scarcely  live  feet  high,  with  broa:l  shoulders,  capacious 
stomach,  short,  fat  legs,  and  a  head  like  a  buftalo 
b;il Fs,  covered  with  a  hirsute  substance,  more  Jike 
bristles  than  ordinary  hair.  He  always  wore  his  hair 
short, -and  as  it  stuck  up  stiffly,  his  head  resembled  an 
angry  porcupine  about  to  discharge  its  quills. 

Bob  never  wore  any  head-covering  summer  or  win- 
ter, as  he  said,  "  for  fear  o'  embarrassin'  his  beauteous 
locks." 

Rowdy  wore  a  jacket   of  deerskin,  hairy  side  out, 


<#  OJLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

buttoned  close  up  to  Ma  chin  •  his  breeches  were  of 
rough  buckskin  $  his  feet  were  bare,  the  soles  being  as 
hard  and  calloused  as  a  horse's  hoof.  In  winter  hs 
wore  moccasins,  in  summer  he  ran  barefoot.  A  bcU 
he  despised.  His  knife  was  thrust  through  a  holo  in 
Ms  roundabout.  His  powder-horn  and  pouch  were 
siting  about  his  neck  and  hung  down  over  his  paunch. 

Rowdy  Bob  started  the  moment  he  behold  the  miners 
returning,  and  ran  at  full  speed  toward  old  Joe,  leap- 
ing up  to  him  with  a  yell,  as  if  overjoyed  to  meet  him. 

"  Whooray  !  how  *d'ye  do,  old  Josephus  ?"  cried 
Bob.  "  Whew,  hain't  I  glad  to  see  ye  !  Got  a  gold 
mine  hyar,  eh  ?  Did  ye  ketch  the"  sperrit  ye  was 
arter!  Haw,  haw  !  the  only  sperrit  Rowdy  Bo'b  kcers 
for,  are  whisky  straight." 

"Raaly  I'm  drefful  delighted  to  meet  ve,  Bob?  re- 
plied old  Joe,  catching  the  stubby  trapper  l,y  the  sol- 
Jar  of  his  jacket,  and  lifting  Inm  a  foot  high.  u  Fat 
ail'  saucy  as  ever.  Whar  be  ye  goin'  f ; 

"I'm  pilotiir*  a  precious  pair  o'  coveys  from  bevand 
the  mountains,  down  to  the  forts  below/'  said  Bob, 
""That  is,  me  an'  Lute  Hopper  is." 

.'*  Who  are  the  coveys  ?" 

"  A  man  an'  young  ooman." 

!f  So  l.aii7  ye  futched  up  hyar.     Whar  be  they  1" 

"  In  camp,  hyar." 

The  party  had  by  this  time  reached  the  camp  on  the 
lake  shore,  and  were  tryin'  to  satisfy  the  curiosity  of 
Dyce  Richards  and  his  garrison,  as  to  the  result  of 
tiicir  mission. 

"  Trying  to  build  a  fort,  eh  ?"  laughed  Joe.  «  Wal ! 
old  boy,  it's  jest  what  we've  got  to  do  if  we  stav  hvar. 
lhar'g  not  much  use  o>  try  in'  to  ketch  this  nondesoript 
oritter,  as  is  aanoyin'  us.  So  I'm  o'  the  opinion  wo 
ought  to  fortify,  and  then  run  our  chances  alter  that," 

Dyce  Richards  had  not  shown  much  favor  to  the 
new  comers,  but  now  that  Joe  had  arrived  and  vouched 
for  both  Rowdy  Bob  and  Lute  Hopperf  the  strangers 
were  at  ono*  received  cordially,  and  with  true  frontier 
Lospitulity. 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOB  ** 

It  was  a  novel  thing  to  see  a  white  lady  on  the 
plains,  in  so  high  a  latitude,  out  of  the  emigrant 
routes  j  find  her  presence  created  no  little  flurry  in 
c^rnp.  Wo  need  scarcely  say  that  she  was  paid  as 
mucli  deference  as  a  queen.  The  lady  was  young  and 
pretty. 

The  person  with  whom  she  was  making  this  wild 
and  adventurous  journey,  was  a  tall,  slender  man,  who 
wore  glasses.  His  hair  was  black,  his  beard  was  long 
and  ample,  his  features  were  thin  and  crafty,  his  eyes 
wore  a  fierce,  determined  expression.  His  age  might 
have  Ixseu  forty-five. 

When  Harold  Glcnclyffo  first  set  eyes  upon  the 
young  lady,  he  seemed  impressed  with  the  idea,  that 
ho  had  seen  her  before,  and  eyed  her  with  considerable 
scrutiny. 

"  I  beg  yonr  pardon,"  said  Glenclyffe,  advancing 
and  extending  his  hand,  "  bu<;  I  am  sure  that  I  kno\v 
you.  Your  namu'is  Grace  Cardington,  and  you  were 
at  0110  timo  employed  in  tlio  Manchester  Mills. 

Tho  imiiden  seemed  embarrassed,  and  refused  to  ao- 
oept  the  youth's  proffered  hand. 

"  You  are  entirely  in  '/rror,  sir,"  said  the  tall  man  fa 
glasses,  bowing  very  stiffly  and  formally.  "This  lady 
is  my  niece,  Bertha  Waldemcyer.  She  has  never  been 
even  within  the  sound  of  the  Manchester  Mills.  My 
name  irf  Karl  Wnldemeycr,  M.  D.,  graduate  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Loipsie." 

This  was  equivalent  to  a  dismissal,  and  Harold 
"turned  upon  his  heel  in  no  very  amiable  mood. 

Our  friend,  Harold  Glenclvffe,  was  a  native  of  Mas- 
sachusetts. He  was  just  twenty -five  years  of  age,  ar- 
dent, impulsive,  generous,  and  brave.  He  had  nearly 
broken  himself  with  hard  study  at  Harvard,  and 
when  graduated,  he  determined  to  take  a  trip  to  Cali- 
fornia, overland,  in  hopes  that  the  bracing  atmosphere 
of  the  prairies  might  build  up  his  shattered  health. 

Ho  hud  made  the  trip  in  part ;  had  fallen  in  with  a 
detachment  of  government  troops,  among  whom  was 
a  former  schoolmate,  then  a  sergeant;  by  th«  per* 


'    84  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

suasions  of  Ned  Harm-nil],  he  had  gone  to  the  fort, 
near  where  we  first  in  trod  need  him  to  the  reader,  and 
where  he  first  met  California  Joe. 

Harold  had  been  visiting  an  uncle  at  Manchester, 
some  four  years  before.  This  uncle  owned  a  large 
factory,  and  in  the  mill  there  worked  many  girls  and 
full  grown  women. 

Among'  them,  young  GlenclyfFe  noticed  a  maiden, 
perhaps  sixteen  years  of  age,  who  attracted  his  atten- 
tion to  so  wonderful  a  degree,  that  he  began  to  make 
inquiries  about  her.  She  was  very  beautiful,  and  'so 
much  of  a  lady  that  lie  wondered  who  she  was,  and 
ho  TV  she  came  to  be  in  sucU  employment. 

He  ascertained  that  her  name  was  Grace  Carding- 
ton  •  that  she  was  an  orphan,  her  parents  having  been 
dend  but  a  short  time;,  that  she  had  \\ealthy  relatives 
in  another  State,  but  with  a  spirit  of  intense  indepen- 
dence, she  had  chosen  to  support  herself  sooner  than 
to  accept  of  chanty  at  the  hands  of  any — kin  or 
stranger. 

Harold  was  so  delighted  both  with  the  maiden  her- 
self and  the  .modest  and  independent  character  she 
bore,  that  he  determined  to  seek  her  acquaintance. 
But  when  he  came  to  put  his  plan  into  execution,  be- 
hold, the  maiden  had  disappeared,  nor  could  he  find 
any  clue  to  her  whereabouts.  So  he  went  back  Lome 
with  a  sore  spot  in  his  heart. 

^  GicnclvfFe  was  by  no  means,  satisfied  with  his  inter- 
view with  the  strangers  at  camp. 

I  shall  see  old  Joe,  and  he  must  help  me  unravel 
the  skein,"  said  Harold. 


•CHAPTER  VI. 

ROWDY  BOB  and  Lute  Hopper,  the  two  worthy  trap- 
pers who  were  "  convoying"  Karl  Waluemeyer  and 
his  niece  to  the  forts  below,  were  very  much  like  other 
men  in  point  of  avarice'and  greed.  When  they  looked 
about  them,  and  beheld  il.e  inexhaustible  richness  of 
the  vnney  in  gold,  and  rcnh^d  that  a  sojourn  of  a  few 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  35 

weeks  there,  would  enable  tlieni  to  fill  their  bullet 
pouches  with  golden  particles,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered 
at  that  they  pat  their  heads  together,  and,  after  hold- 
ing a  short  consultation,  went  to  old  Joe  and  asked 
permission  to  stay  and  dig  gold  with  the  others. 

California  Joe  had  no  objections. 

But  the  real  trouble  arose  when  Bob  made  known 
to  Kan  Waldemeyer  their  intentions.  That  person 
raved  and  stormed  like  a  tempest  in  the  mountains. 
He  wound  up  by  declaring  that  they  might  go  to  a 
certain  spot  of  high  temperature,  for  l>e  could  find  his 
way  alone. 

"Go  alone,  eh T9  said  old  Joe,-  in  a  private  inter- 
view which  ho  had  with  the  German  doctor-  "ye 
hain't  the  least  idea  o'  what  ye  are  savin'.  Why,  c'ood 
Lor',  it's  as  much  as  I'd  want  to  do  myself,  with,  nothin3 
along  but  Greased  Lightnin'  and  Crop-ear.  T  liar's 
no  eend  o'  difficulties  and  dangers  from  Injuns,  b'ars, 
snakes,  hunger,  thirst,  an'  devil  knows  what.  Take 
,rav  advice.  Bob  shan't  stay  over  three  weeks  at  the 
outside,  an'  that  won't  be  long  runnin'  by.  So  far  as 
yer  niece  is  consarned,  she's  as  safe  hyar  in  Broken 
Bluff  Valley  as  she  ud  be  in  the  city  o'  New  York." 

Karl  Waldemeyer  seemed  utterly  oblivious  to  the 
dangers  of  proceeding  alone  ;  but,  nevertheless,  he 
continued  to  remain  day  after  day. 

A  week  had  elapsed  since  the  events  occurred  at  the 
mysterious  spring,  and  nothing  had  been  seen  or  heard 
of  the  weird  enemy  that  had  warned  them  to  leave. 

An  event  hud  occurred,  however,  which,  though  not 
known  to  iuor?  than  three  persons,  yet  excited  these 
three  to  an  intense  degree. 

The  German  doctor  and  his  niece  often  took  walks 
through  the  adjacent  vallev.  . 

Upon  one  of  these  occasions  they  approached  the 
spot,  wlieie,  unknown  to  them,  Harold  Gleficlyffe  was 
employed.  The  young  man  perceived  them  coming, 
and,  actuated  by  an  unaccountable  impulse,  he  at  once 
concealed  himself  in  a  dense  cluster  of  bushes. 

The  doctor  arid  Bertha  were  walking  slowly  along, 


CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

engaged  in  an  earnest  conversation.  They  camo  di« 
reotly  to  the  spot  where  Harold  lay  concealed. 

"  In  God's  name,"  said  the  doctor,  passionately, 
**will  yon  never  yield  this  point  ff 

"Karl,  I  cannot  do  it,  replied  Bertha,  in  tears. 
"Why  will  yon  tins  persist  in  this  terrible  course. 
Ton  know  that  I  cannot  love  yon." 

"Why  not V  demanded  (lie  Gerrnan;  angrily.  "I 
ask  you  for  the  hundredth  time,  why  not?" 

"And  I  must  answer  now,  as  always,  thr.t  I  do  not 
know.  Love  is  wot  ours  to  command.  It  comes,  I 
cannot  say  how." 

"  Well,  then,  Bertha,"  continued  Wnldemeyer,  "this 
thing  has  run  its  course  j  wo  may  as  well  understand 
each  other  iirst  as  last.  Four  years  have  wo  known 
each  other.  During  that  time  I  have  loved  yon  as  n;y 
own  life.  You  owe  your  life  to  mo.  You  know  tho 
wonderful  events  which  brought  us  together.  "  You 
know  that  I  have  surrendered  everything  that  makes 
life  desirable  to  bo  in  your  society.  Now,  will  you,  or 
will  yon  not  become  my  wilo  ?" 

"If  I  did  consent,  where  could  we  live?" 

"Anywhere;  even  in  these  desert  wilds/1 

"It  cannot  be  j  exposure  might  mine  any  clfiy.  To 
prove  that,  we  have  had  a  remarkable  thing  happen, 
even  here,  of  late.  This  young*  gold  ^cckei  recognized 
me,  and  I  doubt  not  he  will  bear  away  the  repoit  with 
him.  Oh,  life  is  a  burden  ;  I  wish,  Karl  Waldemeyer, 
you  would  strike  mo  dead." 

"  You  must  bo  my  wife,"  pressed  the  other. 

"  Indeed,  I  cannot." 

"Then  1  will  reveal  your  secret  tho  moment  \\e 
have  reached  tho  borders  of  civilization.  How  like 
yon  that  ?" 

"You  will  drive  mo  to  take  my  own  life,"  Paid  Ber- 
tha, wringing  her  hands  and  nioaninsr.  "You  are  no 
longer  mv  friend.  You  are  a  coward,  Karl  Wnkle- 
meyer.  You  threaten  a  poor,  helpless  maiden,  whom 
yon  have  in  your  powciv  Would  to  God  I  had  nev^ 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  37 

accepted  life  at  your  hands.     Oh,  I  hate  you — I  hate   jf 
you .!" 

"  So  it  has  come  to  this,  eh  V  hissed  the  doctor, 
stepping  nearer  to  the  trembling  girl.  "  I  feared  it. 
Have  you  been  in  consultation  with  this  young  poppin- 
jay — this  Glenclyffe  ?  Has  he  been  whispering  s\\eet 
words  into  your  ear  ?  Has  he  been " 

"No;  he  has  done  nothing.  He  has  not  addressed 
me  since  the  first  time  in  your  own  presence.  He  saw 
that  I  could  not  recognize  him,  and  so,  with  a  nobler 
spirit  than  you  profess,  he  does  not  seek  to  persecute  a 
helpless " 

Karl  Walderneyer  was  furious.  He  clenched  his 
fist,  and  darted  forward. 

"  Ungrateful  £>irl !  take  that.77 

But  the  blow  intended  for  the  maiden  did  not  reach 
the  girl's  breast.  A  manly  fonn  interposed  ;  a  harder 
blow  laid  the  wrathful  disciple  of  Esculapius  prostrate 
and  senseless  upon  the  sward. 

"  Harold  Glenclyffe  !'7  ejaculated  the  maiden,  in  the 
utmost  terror,  "  what  have  you  done  ?" 

"Done?  IVe  knocked  down  as  cowardly  a  villain 
as  ever  annoyed  a  lovely  maiden,  Grace  Cardington," 
replied  our  hero,  with  a  triumphant  smile.  "  I  am  no 
stranger.  I  saw  you  lour  years  ago  in  Manchester  ;  I 
learned  your  name,  your  orphan  condition,  your  high 
character  ;  I  confess  that  I  loved  you.  Grace  Car- 
dington,  I  love  you  still.  Nay,  start  not;  we  are  not 
children.  Life  is  earnest,  real.  WThy  practice  decep-. 
tion  ?  Oh,  Grace  Cardington,  cannot  you  love  me?"  I 

"  I  dare  love  no  man,  whilst  the  curse  hangs  over 
me/7  exclaimed  Grace,  in  hot,  excited  tones.  "Oh! 
what  a  curse,  and  over  me  who  am  as  innocent  as  tire 
bale  in  its  mothers  arms.  But  I  cannot  explain. 
Fly  !  this  man  is  coming  to  his  senses.  Go.  YoU 
say  you  love  me;  show  it  by  leaving  me.77 

Harold  caught  the  maiden7s  hand,  kissed  it  madly, 
and  darted  away. 

With  a  groan,  Waldemeyer  opened  his  eyes, 


38  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

DOCTOR  WALDEMEYER  was  furious  when  be  recov 
ered  his  senses,  and  remembered  how  he  had  been 
stricken  down  by  the  young  hunter.  He  repaired  to 
Joe's  quarters  to  demand  satisfaction.  To  the  doctor's 
astonishment  he  found  the  old  hunter  and  Harold  in 
close  confab,  so  earnestly  engaged,  ineeed,  that  they 
did  not  notice  his  approach  •  and  so  Waldemeyer  con- 
cealed himself  behind  a  clump  of  bushes  where  he 
could  overhear  the  conversation. 

"  He  struck  this  gal,  eh  f  asked  Joe. 

"  No/'  replied  Harold.  "He  raised  his  fist  to  do  it, 
but  I  intercepted  the  blow,  and  knocked  him  down." 

11  That's  the  checker,"  said  Joe,  with  a  chuckle. 
(t  Any  purp  as  would  raise  hand  a<n;i  a  woman,  de- 
sarves  to  git  laid  out  flatter  than  a  flounder.  I) urn  mv 
whiskers!  I've  a  notion  to  tell  the  boys,  an'  let,  Yin 
souse  him.  My  eyes!  how  they'd  chuck  him  into  tho 
lake  hyar.  He'd  drown  sartin,  onless  Kingfisher 
fished  him  out  agin.'7 

"  No,  that  would  never  do,"  replied  Harold.  "\Vo 
must  say  nothing  about  it.  The  men  would  assuredly 
take  the  scoundrel's  life.  For  the  girl's  sake,  we  will 
have  to  keep  quiet  about  this  rencontre." 

"Very  wel!.  I'll  do  as  ye  say.  He  won't  dare  to 
attempt  to  harm  the  maiden  agin,  whilst  he  stays 
hyar." 

u  My  greatest  fear  is,  that  he  will  steal  away  with 
the  girl,  and  desert  us  altogether. 

At  this  point  of  the  conversation  the  doctor  deemed 
it  best  to  withdraw,  and  so  he  retired  without  being 
seen. 

"  Hum  !  this  young  upstart  fears  I  may  leave  this 
valley,  eh?  and  take  Bertha  with  me.  Does  the  vaga- 
bond think  I  would  go  and  not  take  her  along  ?  Now 
there's  mischief  brewin'  here.  This  young  hunter  has 
been  smitten  by  Grace's  beauty,  and  seems  determined 
to  press  his  suit.  I  am  shrewd  enough  to  see  that. 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  39 

"  How  on  eartli  did  lie  recognize  her  so  quickly  ? 
who  would  have  suspected  that  we  should  be  recog- 
nized here  in  the  midst  of  the  vast  wilderness.  Lose 
Orace  Oardington  I  Deuce  take  it!  I've  not  done 
all  that  I  have  done  to  be  outwitted  at  last.  No.  We 
will  abandon  this  valley  at  once.  I  will  use  my  influ- 
ence with  this  young  Kingfisher,  who  seems  to  be  the 
best  fellow  in  the  lot,  and  get  him  to  pilot  'us  to  the 
fort.  We  will  outwit  old  Joe  with  all  his  reputation."  j 

That  night  Kingfisher  had  a  lengthy  conversation, 
in  private,  with  Karl  Waldemeyeiv  It  was  evident 
that  something  had  been  agreed  upon,  for  the  two  men 
parted  in  the  best  of  spirits. 

Toward  morning  Harold  Glenclyffe  got  up,  and 
throwing  aside  his  blanket,  piled  upon  the  fire  more 
fuel,  arid  sat  down,  as  if  in  meditation,  casting,  how- 
ever, a  glance  now  and  then  toward  the  lodge  wherein 
slept  Grace  Cardington.  There  were  no  signs  of  life 
there,  nor  in  the  adjacent  shelter,  where  the  doctor  was 
wont  to  pass  the  night. 

"  Don't  believe  they  tried  it  last  night,"  said  the 
hunter  in  monotone,  "or  if  they  did,  they  ran  against 
a  snag  !  Ha,  ha !  I  think  we  managed  that  pretty 
well." 

"Ah!  it  is  already  dawn.  I  wish  Rowdy  Bob 
would  return,  and  Lute  Hopper.  They  couldn't  be 
bought  up  by  this  doctor,  eh  f  No  ;  Joe  says  he'd 
trust  his  life  to  Bob's  honesty.  So!"  continued  Har- 
old, walking  toward  the  shore  of  the  lake,  "  there  they 
come  now.  There  is  only  one.  It  is  Bob.  Where  is 
Hopper  ?'' 

"  Rowdy  is  comiu',  is  he  f  said  Joe,  joining  the 
young  hunter.  "  But  where  is — clip  my  top-knot, 
boy  !  t bar's  suthin'  wrong,"  added  the  old  fellow, 
jumping  over  the  temporary  breastwork  at  a  leap, 
"  Come,  thar's  suthin'  wrong,  depend  on  it." 

Harold  and  Joe  met  the  trapper  in  a  moment. 

"What's  the  matter f  cried  Joe.  "Hain't  got 
ahead  o'  ye,  hev  they  ?" 

"  Matter  enough,"  returned  Bob,  grinding  his  rifle- 


40  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

butt  into  the  sand.  I  b'leeve  now  everything  re 
told  me  yesterday.  "  It  must  lie  the  old  scratch  hisseri/' 

"What  are  ye  speakh/  off  demanded  Joe. 

"The  critter  as  lulled  Lute  Hopper,"  blurted  out 
the  hunter. 

"Hopper  dead?77  ejaculated  both  heavers. 

"How  was  this  done,  Bob,"  asked  Joe.  "Surely 
•you  wan't  caught  nappin7  like  Darrell  Winter  was,  the 
other  night  ?  Did  you  see  the  critter  that  did  this 
awful  deed  f" 

"  Sartin  I  seed  it/1  said  Rowdy  Bob. 

"What  was  it  like,  Bob  ?'1  said  Joe. 

"  Button  my  eye  over  my  nose  !  that's  a  tough  ques- 
tion to  answer,  Joe/7  said  Bob,  scratching  his  bristly 
poll.  "  It  was  about  ten  feet  high,  I  reckon — looked 
like  a  man  on  a  wild  critter,  at  the  same  time.  Had 
horns,  like  a  mountain  ram,  an'  an  all-fired  long  tail. 
Didn't  make  no  noise.  Ban  like  forty  Injuns  chasin' 
buffler.  Wagli  !  it  was  a  leetle  the  odderiferest  sort 
o'  a  critter  as  I  ever  sot  eyes  on  •  and  I  can't  describe 
it  any  more  than  I  could  tell  ye  what  a  stroke  o7  light- 
nin7  was  like.77 

There  was  no  nse  in  asking  any  one  to  stand  guard 
at  the  bluffs  tbe'next  night  j  for  not  one  of  the  "gold 
seekers  would  have  braved  the  unknown  demon's  pow- 
ers for  all  the  gold  in  the  valley. 

Rowdy  Bob  and  Lute  Hopper  had  done  it  at  the 
special  request  of  old  Joe,  who,  in  conjunction  with 
Harold,  had  laid  that  plan  to  intercept  the  German 
doctor,  should  he  attempt  a  flight  by  night-  but  the 
plan  had  now  to  be  abandoned." 

"Thar's  no  use  o'  watchin7  him  now/;  remarked  Joe, 
rubbing  his  finger  across  his  huge  nose.  "  I'll  bet  the 
value  o?  l  Greased  Lightnin'/  that  he  won't  stir  outside 
the  encampment  after  dark,  no  more  than  a  school-boy 
ud  dare  go  to  bed  alone  after  readin'  about  Jack,  the 
Giant  Killer.  Wagh  !  it's  a  healthy  old  skeer  most 
o'  us  has  got/7 

"But  we  must  just  give  him  to  understand  that  no 
one  is  to  leave  the  valley,  until  he's  allowed  to  go  by 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  41 

a  vote  of  the  party/'  said  Harold,  "  and  I  don't  think 
he'll  venture  after  that.  Stop !  here  comes  Tom  Brid- 
ler  in  a  desperate  hurry.  What  new  thing  is  going  to 
happen  now?" 

The  old  whaler  came  trotting  up  briskly. 

"  Say,  shipmate/''  said  he  to  Joe,  *'  liyar's  a  new 
craft  just  hove  into  sight.  We  no  sooner  lose  a  chap 
tlwu  another  one  comes  along.  He's  coming1  up  the 
valley  like  a  ship  under  full  sail,  ridin7  a  boss  like  a 
centaur." 

The  new-comer,  as  he  approached,  was  discovered  to 
be  a  nondescript  character,  quite  worthy  of  attention. 

He  bestrode  a  forlorn-looking  quadruped,  lank  and 
lean,  with  cropped  ears  and  tail.  The  bridle  was 
made  of  untanned  deerskin,  whilst  a  well-worn 
blanket  was  thrown  over  a  dilapidated  saddle. 
From  the  pommel  of  the  saddle  there  was  sus- 
pended an  iron  stew-pan  j  upon  the  cantle  \vas  strapped 
a  blue  cotton  umbrella;  a  double-barreled  shot-gun 
was  the  only  weapon  visible. 

The  man  was  well  past  the  meridian  of  life,  as  was 
betokened  by  the  flowing  gray  locks  which  streamed 
in  the  wind.  He  wore  a  stove-pipe  hat,  from  which 
all  gloss  and  nap  had  long  before  departed  j  his  coat 
was  patched,  until  it  had  become  one  of  many  colors  i 
his  breeches,  made  of  striped  stuff,  were  tight  fitting, 
the  bottoms  being  thrust  into  the  tops  of  an  enormous 
pair  of  cowhide  boots.  In  height,  the  horseman  might 
have  been  nearly  six  feet,  had  he  been  "straightened 
out/7  as  it  was,  his  shoulders  were  stooped,  and  his  back 
bent  by  the  decrepitude  of  old  age.  Gray  whiskers 
covered  the  lower  part  of  his  face ;  over  the  left  eye 
he  wore  a  reddish  bandanna  handkerchief,  tied  about 
his  head  diagonally. 

By  the  time  the  miners  had  concluded  their  survey 
of  the  horse  and  rider,  the  old  man  drew  rein  near  the 
camp,  and  quietly  looked  about  him. 

"  What  do  ye 'want  hyarT  called  out  old  Joe. 

The  horseman  made  no  reply  whatever,  and  old  Joe 
repeated  the  question  in  a  more  elevated  tone : 


43  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

"  What  do  ye  want  hyar  ?" 

This  time  the  old  fellow  threw  up  his  head. 

"Did  ye  speak  ?"  he  asked.     "  Talk  louder." 

"  What  do  ye  want  hyar  !" 

"  Louder/7  said  the  horseman. 

"  Ye  are  a  durned  fool/7  yelled  old  Joe,  angrily. 

"Yes,"  replied  the  stranger,  with  the  utmost  imper- 
turbability, "  the  day  is  rattier  cool.77 

"  What7s  yer  name  f 

"Hay?77   " 

"What — is — yer — name  ?w  screamed  Joe. 

"  Zerubabel  Potts  is  my  name/7  said  the  horseman. 

"  What  da  ye  want  here  V 7 

"  Yes ;  I  don't  keer  if  I  do  stop  awhile/7  replied  Ze- 
vubabel  Potts,  getting  off  his  horse;  "  I'm  desprit 
tired.77 

"  Wagh !  I  never  saw  such  a  chap.  Ye  are  hard  to 
beat.7' 

"  Eat  ?  Yes,  I  would  like  a  bite.  Hain7t  had  any 
grub  to-day.77 

"  Yer  an  infernal  scamp/7  shouted  Joe,  getting  red 
in  the  face. 

"It  is  a  pooty  camp,  that  so/7  said  the  man  of  mis- 
takes. "  I'll  be  etarnally  obleeged  to  ye  for  yer  hos- 
pitality." 

"  Go  to  the  devil !"  screamed  Joe,  turning  away  in 
disgust. 

"  Yes,  ye  be  right  civil/7  said  Potts,  "  and  I  won't 
forgit  ye,  no  how.77 

With  this,  the  horseman  dismounted,  hitched  his 
horse  to  a  shrub,  and  limped  into  camp. 

After  a  while,  he  was  left  pretty  much  alone,  as  it 
was  found  to  be  too  difficult  a  matter  to  converse  with 
him,  owing  to  his  deafness. 

"  He's  some  poor,  wanderin'  cuss/7  said  Joe,  with  a 
shrug  of  his  shoulders.  "The  Injun's  hain't  harmed 
him,  nor  won't,  for  they'd  think  him  only  a  fool,  and  in 
that  they7d  not  be  far  wrong,  I7m  thinkin7  myself.  Give 
Lim  what  ho  wants  to  eat,  boys,  an7  let  him  do  as  he 
pleases.77 


OLD  CALIFORNIA.  JOE.  43 

In  thinking  the  matter  over  again,  the  old  hunter 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  another  effort  ought  to 
be  made  to  solve  the  mystery  of  the  demon  of  the 
valley,  before  the  project  was  wholly  abandoned.  So 
he  busied  his  brain  with  considering  how  it  had  best 
be  undertaken. 

"  What's  your  programme,  Joe  ?'7 

"  Why,  1  want  ye,  and  Rowdy,-  an7  Dyce  Richards, 
the  b'ar  hunter,  an'  Tom  Bridler,  the  old  whaler,  an7  • 
Hans  Kalbfleisch,  to  go  with  rne  up  the  valley.  That 
makes  six  o7  us,  an7  men  not  easily  skeert.  We'll  go 
up  to  the  b7ilin'  spring,  an7  make  a  thorough  s'arcli  at 
that  eend  o7  the  valley,  an7  if  thar's  anything  to  be 
found,  I'll  bet  we'll  find  it.  The  rest  o7  the  boys  can 
remain  in  camp,  or  go  to  washin7  gold,  just  as  they 
like. 

"  I've  spoke  to  the  rest,  an7  they  are  all  ready  to 
start  at  wonst.  I  left  ye  to  the  last,  for  I  know'd  ye7d 
go  with  me  sartin.'7 

This  new  plan  of  Joe's  was  highly  satisfactory  to 
all  concerned. 

The  distance  between  the  camp  and  the  spring  was 
speedily  traversed.  As  the  cavalcade  came  near  the 
fountain,  they  noticed  that  it  was  already  beginning  to 
bubble  and  boil,  and  the  waters  to  rise,  as  on  their 
previous  visit,  sending  aloft  again  the  clouds  of  vapor 
and  spray. 

It  was  plain  enough  that  this  incident  was  making 
a  deep  impression  upon  all  the  party. 

Suddenly    Hans    Kalbfleisch,    who   had    been  sta-  \ 
tioned  at  a*  spot  behind  the  spring,  carne  bounding  to- 
wards the  others. 

"  Mein  G-ott !  I  see  the  strangest  ding  never  was, 
by  dunder.  Yaw  I  shoost  go  here  rnit  me.77 

All  ran  to  the  locality  indicated  by  the  Dutchman. 

Hans  stopped  at  a  point  outside  the  canopy  of  cloud 
and  mist  which  overhung  the  spring,  and  directed  the 
attention  of  all  to  the  mountain  spur,  which  closed  in 
the  valley  on  the  north. 

Near  the  edge  of  the  cone,  on  that  part  which  over- 


44  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

looked  the  spring,  were  three  small  needle-shaped 
points,  standing  in  a  row. 

Upon  the  apex  of  each  of  these  needle-shaped  peaks, 
was  affixed  a  human  head,  and  these  heads  were  those 
of  the  murdered  gold-seekers  ! 

California  Joe  and  his  six  cprripanions  stood  gazing 
upon  the  ghostly  scene,  like  men  smitten  with  par- 
alysis. 

After  the  lapse  of  a  minute,  California  Joe  said  : 

"  Boys,  that's  the  toughest  thing1  I've  seed  yet.  It's 
bad  enough,  deuce  knows,  to  have  a  friend's  head 
chopped  off  in  the  dark,  an'  not  be  able  to  find  out 
who  did  it;  but  to  hev  7em  all  sot  up  in  a  row  on  a  lot 
o*  sharp-pointed  rocks,  that's  owdaciously,  opstropo- 
lously  ,  doggone  mean.  What's  to  be  did  I'd  like  to 
know  ?  We  must  get  'ern  down  an'  bury  ?ern.'; 

"  Can  we  climb  the  cone  ?'7 

"  We  kin  try,"  said  Joe.  "  Corne  on,  boys.  Look 
to  ver  guns.  If  the  demon  has  the  Icetlest  shadow  o; 
spunk,  an'  any  supernatural  powers,  it'll  try  to  prevent 
us  from  gettin'  them  heads." 

The  party  at  once  left  the  vicinity  of  the  boiling 
spring1,  which  was  still  seething  and  bubbling  furiously, 
and  crossing  the  broken  ground,  approached  the  ridge. 
At  its  foot  they  halted,  and  examined  the  spot  care- 
fully. 

The  trappers  stood  at  the  foot,  of  the  cone.  It  wag 
evident  that  but  one  or  two  could  make  the  ascent  at 
a  time  to  advantage. 

'*  Now,  by  schnapps  !"  said  Kalbfleisch,  "I  goes  oop 
mineself,  and  prings  de  heat's  down.'7 

There  being  no  objections  made,  the  burly  Teuton 
laid  his  gun  upon  the  ground, Irlrew  his  belt  up  another 
hole,  and  began  the  task  of  scaling  the  cone. 

Suddenly,  when  Hans  had  reached  two-thirds  of  the 
way,  he  was  seen  to  begin  to  sink  into  the  ground, 
and  to  strike  out  furiously.  Then  tbe  Dutchman  shot 
up  wildly  into  the  air,  and  came  tumbling  down  the 
declivity,  head  over  heels,  like  a  huge  ball,  landing 
flat  upon,  his  back  in  the  midst  of  his  companions, 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  45 

The  hunters  were  astounded,  for  the  misfortune  of 
the  burly  trapper  was  unaccountable. 

"  Ich  cannot  verstahon  it  meinself,"  replied  Hans, 
sitting  tip,  and  rubbing  his  legs  furiously.  "Ich 
shoost-  vent  down  into  do  ground  like  a  poy  goes  into 
do  mud  poodle ;  and  den  I  goes  oop  into  de  sky  like 
von  lectio  rocket,  py  d under!  Ob,  mein  Gott !  how 
de  ding  hurts  mein  leg,  uud  mein  pack,  und  meiii 
cberyding."  * 

f|flt  was  all  a  torn-foolery  for  sech  a  big  porpous  as 
Mynheer  von  Kalblleisch  to  try  an7  climb  up  sech  a 
sleep  place  as  that,"  said  Tom  Bridler.  "Now,  either 
me  or  Rowdy  Bob  is  the  man  for  that  work.  Rowdy, 
shin  it  up  thav  quicker  than  a  b'ar  ud  climb  a  tree." 

"  Whooray !''  yelled  Bob,  dropping  his  rifle,  and 
holding  his  knife  between*  his  teeth.  "  See  ycr  uncle 
mount  that  rock,  boys." 

Rowdy  was  as  stout  as  he  was  stubby,  and  carefully 
avoiding  the  spot  where  Hans  had  met  his  misfortune, 
the  plucky  little  trapper  was  presently  dancing  on  the 
level  top  of  the  cone. 

"Whoop  her  up!"  he  yelled,  vigorously.  "This 
comes  o7  not  weariir  hat  tr  shoes.  I'll  pass  the  he-ids 
down  pretty  soon.  No,  1  can't;  Pm  not  tall  enough. 
Up  hyar,  six-footer/'  lie  cried,  to  Joe. 

Joe  was  by  his  side  in  a  minute;  then  he  began  the 
mournful  duty  of  removing  the  heads  of  his  butchered 
companions.  They  were  in  a  wonderful  state  of  pres- 
ervation, owing  to  the  dry  ness  of  the  surrounding  at- 
mosphere. He  first  removed  from  the  sharp  point  the 
head  of  Lute  Hopper,  and  passed  it  to  Rowdy  Bob, 
who  stood  in  silence  behind  him.  Next,  the  head  of 
Gregg  Hardy  was  placed  in  the  little  trapper's  care  ; 
and  old  Joe  essayed  to  lemove  the  last  one  of  the 
mournful  relics,  when  he  was  startled  by  a  howl  fro  a 
his  companion. 

At  the  same  time  Joe  felt  the  rock  tremble  beneath 

him,  and  had  just  time  to  bound  aside,  when   he  Ue- 

held  Rowdy  Bob  disappear  in  a  yawning  chasm,  that 

seen^d  to  open  before  him.     Out  of  sight  shot  the 

9* 


46  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

jolly  little  trapper,  bearing  tlie  two  heads  with  him, 
whilst  a  puff  of  vapor  and  hot  air  came  steaming  up 
through  the  opening. 

Seizing  the  remaining  head,  Joe  slid  down  the  cone 
with  the  utmost  celerity,  into  tlie  midst  of  the  aston- 
ished hunters. 

"  Out  o'  this,  boys,'7  he  cried,  "  quicker  than  ye  ever 
'.went  afore.  The  hull  cone's  caviri'  in,  an7  thar's  no 
"tellin'  what's  goin'  to  happen.  Rowdy  Bob's  dropped 
into  fire  an'  brimstone.  He's  burnt  into  a  crisp  afore 
this.  Hyar's  Harper's  head;  the  rest  are  gone  with 
poor  Bob.  Wagh  !  we're  nigh  the  infarnal  region,  I'm 
reckonin'." 

The  five  trappers  descended  the  ridge  in  double* 
quick  time;  but  having  reached  the  level  of  the  valley 
they  stopped  and  looked  again  at  the  cone.  Here  it 
stood,  silent  and  grim,  with'  a  light  cloud  of  vapor 
wreathing  itself  about  the  summit. 

After  quite  a  long  discussion,  the  party  concluded  to 
go  back  to  camp,  as  it  was  getting  late,  and  hold  there 
a  general  council  upon  the  situation. 

It  wasdark  when  the  encampment  was  reached.  Heie 
they  discovered  an  unexpected  state  of  affairs.  King 
fisher  had  absconded,  and  with  him  had  gone  also  the 
German  Doctor,  and  the  young  woman.  Old  Joe  waa 
furious.  Harold  was  alarmed  and  very  anxious. 
there  to  be  no  end  of  trouble  ? 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

KARL  WALDEMEYEII,  to. a  fine  education, 
far  more  than  ordinary  degree  of  native 
and  tact.  During  all  his  wanderings  in  company  with 
Grace  Carding  ton,  he  had  never,  by  word  or  deed, 
treated  her  otherwise  than  as  a  gentleman  should,  until 
the  unfortunate  moment,  when,  carried  away  by  pas- 
sion, he  had  raised  his  hand  to  sirike  her,  as  we  have 
related. 

As  soon   as   his  temper,    naturally    very    fiery,  but, 
nevertheless  invariably  under  restraint   of  reason,  had 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  47 

resumed  its  wonted  placidity,  the  doctor  perceived  that 
he  committed  a  great  error,  and  hastened  to  apologize  to 
the  maiden  for  his  rude  conduct. 

He  also  perceived  that  young  Glenclyffe  was  infat- 
uated with  Miss  Cardington,  and  that  it  was  necessary 
to  remove  Grace  from  the  presence  of  the  young  hun- 
ter ;  in  other  words,  to  proceed  from  Broken  BlufF 
Valley,  at  the  earliest  possible  moment.  But  how  was 
this  to  be  accomplished  ?  *  * 

Waldemeyer  grew  intimate  with  Kingfisher.  He  felt  tlie 
absolute  necessity  of  having  with  him,  as  guide,  a  man 
accustomed  to  the  plains,  and  one  who  understood  tho 
adjacent  country.  Satisfied  that  Kingfisher  could  bo 
tampered  with,  the  doctor  made  advances  toward  him, 
which  he  was  glad  to  perceive  were  reciprocated. 

How  to  get  off  bothered  the  doctor  riot  a  little.  It 
was  a  therefore  a  godsend  to  have  the  most  resolute 
men  in  the  band  start  up  the  valley  to  search  again 
for  the  marvelous  demon. 

During  the  day  the  miners  were  mostly  at  work  iu 
the  stream,  above  the  fortress.  Kingfisher  was  busy 
making  new  fish-lines,  and  quiet  reigned  about  tho 
camp. 

After  noon,  the  doctor  and  his  niece  walked  off 
among  the  adjacent  shrubbery,  where  the  former  had 
concealed  their  traveling  accoutrements.  At  the  pro- 
per moment  Kingfisher  joined  them,  with  three  horsey 
the  third  one  being  the  property  of  Lute  Hopper, 
deceased. 

No  delay  ensued ;  but  mounting  and  arranging 
their  "  traps/  the  trio  rode  silently  dofan  the  valley, 
keeping  out  of  view  of  the  busy  miners. 

After  traversing  some  six  or  eight  miles,  the  doctor 
began  to  look  about  him.  The  route  lay  due  north- 
north-east.  Presently  he  said  : 

1  Are  we  not  going  north  ?" 

'  Certainly,  or  nearly  so,"  replied  the  guide. 
But  the  fort  lies  to' the  south." 

'  Beyond  doubt." 

'  Then  we  are  going  away  from  it." 


48  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

lt  You  are  correct." 

"  I  do  not  undestand  it.  Why  do  we  go  in  this  di- 
rection f  asked  Walderneyer,  in  a  suspicious  lone. 

Kingfisher  laughed  cheerily. 

"  You  suspect  me  of  deceiving  you.  That's  very 
funny.  You  are  very  <  green  7  in  prairie-  Lie,  1  per- 
ceive. Listen  tome.  We  are  fugitives,  are  we  not, 
running  away  ?" 

"Yes." 

"  Have  you  any  idea  that  we  will  be  pursued  *" 

"I  am  quite  confident  that  old  Joe  ami  Glenclyffe 
would  be  only  too  glad  to  bring  us  hack." 

"Exactly.  Well,  they  return  to  camp.  They  find 
out  that  we  are  gone.  What  will  they  do?  where  will 
they  suspect  we  have  gone?" 

"  They  will  think  we  have  gone  to  the  fort." 

"Exactly.  And  they  will  ride  like  demons  in  the 
straightest.  line  for  the  iert.  But  we  have  not  gone  in 
that  way.  We  will  go  to  the  northeast.  .Aft ei \\aids 
we^will  go  to  the  southeast.  Presently  we  will  go 
to  the  south.  By  and  by  we  will  turn  west,  and  we 
shaU  reach  the  fort,  leaving  no  trace  of  our  pi,th." 

The  day  wore  away  rapidly,  hut  not  until  nearly 
dusk  did  Kingfisher  advise  a  halt. 

"  We  will  halt  here,"  said  Kingfisher.  "  You  can 
gather  some  fuel,  and  by  that  time  I  will  have  staked 
out  the  horses.  Then  we  can  get  a  bit  of  supuer  lor 
T  am  half  starved." 

The  fire  was  kindled  in  the  depths  of  the  grove,, 
where  the  surrounding  bushes  would  conceal  the  flame. 
A  savory  meal  was  prepared  of  slices  of  big  horn 
roasted  on  sticks.  Then  the  doctor,  aided  by  King* 
fisher,  suspended  a  blanket,  in  the  shape  of  "a  ham- 
mock,  from  the  trees,  thus  making  a  comfortable  couch 
for  the  maiden. 

After  having  emptied  their  pipes  many  times,  the 

doctor  wrapped  himself  up  in  his  blanket,  and  went  to 

eep,  with  the  understanding  that  Kingfisher  was  to 

remain  awake   until  two   o'clock,  and  then    call  him 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  49 

For  an  hour  the  guide  sat  gazing  into  the  fire,  seem- 
ingly busied  in  profound  thought.  Then  he  got  up, 
piled  some  more  fuel  on  the  coals,  and  looked  care- 
t'ully  at  the  doctor. 

Satisfied  with  the  state  of  affairs,  Kingfisher  with- 
drew from  the  vicinity  of  the  fire,  and  disappeared  in 
the  bushes. 

He  appeared  again  on  the  prairie,  astride  of  his 
horse,  and  rode  around  the  point  of  the  spur,  and  gal- 
loped fast  and  furious  along  the  foot  of  the  range. 

For  half  an  hour  ho  rode  briskly  onward,  coming,  at 
last,  to  a  sudden  halt.  He  saw  before  him  an  Indian 
village  wrapped  in  silence.  He  dismounted,  and,  ut- 
tering the  peculiar  cry  of  the  coyote,  moved  swiftly 
toward  the  village.  Two  dark  figures  rose  up  to  meet 
him. 

"  Wagh  !"  said  the  guide,  "it  is  Kingfisher.  Who 
is  it  I  see  coming  ?" 

u  I  am  Essetoyah,"  replied  a  guttural  voice,  "  and 
Swift  Hare  is  with  me.  We  watch  over  the  family  of 
Panther  Claw  to-night." 

"  It  is  well/'  replied  the  guide.  "  Essetoyah  is  a 
brave  sentinel,  and  Swift  Hare  is  a  better  man  than 
he  who  catches  fish  in  the  lake.  I  would  speak  to  the 
chief." 

li  Kingfisher  knows  where  the  lodge  of  Panther 
Claw  stands,"  said  Essetoyah,  sententiously. 

The  guide,  who,  as  the  reader  perceives,  was  en- 
tirely at  home  in  the  village  of  the  Crows,  walked  for- 
ward, pausing  in  front  of  the  central  lodge  of  the  en- 
campment. 

"  Panther  Claw,  Kingfisher  would  speak  with  you." 

"  Let  Kino-fisher  come  i:i,"  said  a  harsh  voice. 

The  guid'o  entered  the  lodge,  which  was  dirnly 
lighted  by  a  small  fire,  burning  in  a  hole  sunk  six -in- 
ches-in  the  ground,  and  which  also -emitted  a  pleasant 
heat; 

"  Ugh !"  baid  the  chief;  "what  will  my  brother,' 
Kingfisher,  have?" 

"He  wants  a  wife." 


50  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

"  Which  young  squaw  will  he  have  f 7 

''He  wants  a  squaw  of  his  own  color.7' 

"  Wagh  !   where  will  he  get  herf7 

"  On  the  prairie,  a  league  hence.'7 

"Ugh!"  said  the  sachem,  brightening  up.  "Arc 
there  palefaces  so  nearf7 

"  Only  two — a  man  and  his  niece.77. 
.'      "  Wagh  !  cannot  Kingfisher  kill  the   man,  and    get 
the  squaw  ?" 

"He  thought  Panther  Claw  would  rather  have  the 
white  man  for  a  capture,  for  he  is  a  medicine  man.77 

"  The  Kingfisher  is  very  crafty.  He  shall  have  a 
paleface  gquaw  to  keep  him  warm,  and  Panther  Claw 
will  keep  the  medicine  man.77 

When  the  chief  had  got  himself  in  fighting  trim,  he 
roused  up  a  half  dozen  of  his  warriors,  and  made  ready 
to  depart  to  capture  the  "  medicine  man  "  of  the  pale- 
faces. 

Their  journey  down  the  valley  was  made  with  de- 
liberation, knowing  well  that  the  whites  could  not  es- 
cape, even  were  they  disposed  to  try. 

Arriving  in  the  vicinity  of  the  grove,  the  little  band 
was  somewhat  startled  to  perceive  a  man  on  horse- 
back, dart  out  of  the  edge  of  the  grove,  and  ride  away 
at  the  top  of  his  speed.  Two  warriors  at  once  lashed 
their  horses  into  a  gallop,  and  gave  chase,  whilst  the 
others  surrounded  the  spot,  so  that  the  maiden,  if  she 
were  still  there,  should  not  escape. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  pursuers  returned,  saying  that 
the  horseman  had  outstripped  them,  so  that  it  was  use- 
less to  follow  him  in  the  dark. 

Kingfisher  and  Panther  Claw  then  crept  to  the  spot, 
and,  to  their  surprise,  as  \\<.'ll  as  delight,  beheld  Wal- 
demeyer  sleeping  soundly.  Tho  guide  was  non- 
plussed, for  he  had  supposed  that  the  flying  horseman 
was  the  doctor.  Waldemeyer  and  the  maiden  were 
before  them. 

They  were  awakened,  to  find  themselves  helpless 
captives  in  the  power  of  a  band  of  Crows, 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  51 


CHAPTER  IX. 

OLD  ZERUBABEL  POTTS  was  the  man  who  rode  out 
of  the  grove  so  furiously,  when  the  Crows  approached 
it. 

The  old  follow  had  not  lost  sight  of  the  doctor's 
party  during  the  entire  day. 

When  he  saw  them  go  into  camp  he  was  contented, 
for  he  expected  that  they  would  be  found  there  in  the 
morning  So  he  turned  aside  into  a  little  ravine  near 
the  base  of  the  mountains,  dismounted,  gave  his  benst 
an  armful  of  prairie  grass,  which  he  cnt  near  by,  and 
then  gathering  up  a  lot  of  buffalo  drips,  made  a  little 
fire  in  the  bottom  of  the  ravine,  at  which  to  cook  his 
supper  and  warm  himself. 

"There,  now,"  said  he,  in  a  chirrupy  tone,  "if  this 
old  codger  isn't  jovially  fixed,  Fd  like  to  know  it.  I'll 
spread  the  umbrell  to  keep  the  dew  off  me,  for  my  old 
bones  are  wery  rheumatic." 

Unstrapping  a  blanket  from  the  can  tie  of  his  sad- 
dle, and  using  the  latter  for  a  pillow*,  the  n»an  of  in- 
firmities established  himself  underneath  his  umbrella, 
and,  permitting  the  lire  to  die  out,  dropped  to  sleep, 
only  to  awaken  after  midnight  with  a  sudden  start. 

"Mighty — ity  F7  said  he,  scrambling  to  his  feet, 
"that  was  a  dreadful  dream.  What  does  it  mean  ? 
I  declare,  mayhap  I  ought  to  go  there  and  see.  Like's 
not  there's  some  mischief  brewing.  If  they  should 
start  off  in  the  night,  I  might  have  lots  of  trouble  rind- 
ing them.  Whoa-up,  old  horse!  we'll  travel  a  little 
bit,  my  hearty." 

Potts  saddled  his  steed,  and,  mounting,  rode  out 
upon  the  prairie,  going  cautiously  toward  the  grove 
where  the  trio  had  encamped.  He  soon  caught  sight 
of  the  dull,  transient  flicker  of  the  camp-fire,  and  be- 
came more  circumspect  than  ever.  But  scarcely  had 
he  entered  the  limit  of  the  "  inott,"  when  he  became 
aware  of  the  approach  of  horses.  It  was  the  party  of 
Panther  Claw,  and  it  was  only  by  dint  of  desperate 


62  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

riding,  that  Zerubabel  Potts  escaped  falling'  into  the 
Lands  of  the  war-party. 

u  Wjiat  is  to  be  done?  That  poor  orphan  gu%l  must 
not  be  abandoned  thus  to  a  terrible  fate.  If  now  that 
old  trapper,  California  Joe,  was  here,  with  a  few  of  the 
tough  miners,  we  might  attempt  a  rescue.  We  must 
get  the  doctor  and  his  niece  out  of  the  hands  of  the 
Crows,  before  the  barbarians  slay  them.  Whoa-up  ! 
here's  for  Broken  Bluff  Valley." 

Zerubabel  Potts  strapped  his  "  calamities  "  upon  his 
horse,  and,  mounting,  rode  away  over  the  track  he 
had  come,  as  fast  as  his  raw-boned  steed  could  travel. 

A  party  of  horsemen  had  debouched  from  the  gap 
between  the  bluffs,  and  were  riding  swiftly  across  the 
prairie  to  the  southward. 

Zerubabel  Potts  concluded  that  they  were  the  trap- 
pers and  miners  searching  for  the  fugitives. 

Presently  one  of  the  trail-seekers  caught  sight  of 
the  old  fellow,  and,  signaling  the  rest,  awaited  his  ap- 
proach. 

"  Hallo !  old  beeswax,  is  it  ye  V'  cried  California 
Joe,  at  the  bent  of  his  voice.  "  Can  ye  hear  that  f 

"  Certainly,"  replied  the  other.  "I'm -not  deaf— 
only  hard  of  hearing  at  times.  Bad  cold  makes  me 
infirm  in  that  direction." 

"  What  did  you  run  away  from  the  valley  for  ?" 

"  'Cause  I  wanted  to/7 

11  None  o?  yer  sass  now,"  cried  Joe, 

11  Yes  j  the  horse  needed  fresh  grass,"  answered 
Potts,  "  so  I  rode  out  to  pasture  him  a  little.  And 
while  gone  I  saw  a  wonderful  thing." 

"Hum  !  what  was  it?" 

"  I  saw  two  men  and  a  white  woman  ride  out  of  the 
valley  yonder  yesterday  afternoon.  They  went  the 
same  direction  as  I." 

"  By  Jove  I"  cried  Harold,  excitedly.  "  It  was 
Grace  Cardington,  and  the  German  doctor,  and  King- 
fisher." 

"  Likely,"  said  Potts. 

"Whither  went  they?" 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE,  &* 

"  They  rode  northeast.** 

"  Where  saw  you  them  lastT  asked  Harold. 

"  In  the  hands'  of  the  Crows." 

Harold  Glenclyffe  bounded  nearly  out  of  his  saddle 
i'u  the  magnitude  of  his  surprise  j  old  Joe  ripped  out 
an  exclamation  more  forcible  thau  elegant,  whilst  all 
were  stricken  wiili  amazement. 

"  Turn  yer  boss's  tail  south,  and  his  nost  north,  tin' 
lead  us  to  the  place  where  the  Injuns  ketched  the  gal.^ 
If  ye  must  palaver,  do   it  while  we  are   on  the  trail/' 
said  Joe. 

Zorubable  Potts  whirled  his  rack-abone  steed  about, 
dii£  his  heels  into  its  flanks,  and  shot  off  like  an  ar- 
row from  a  bow,  waving  his  umbrella  in  the  air,  and 
shouting  for  the  others  to  come  on. 

Thev  were  California  Joe,  Harold  Glenclvffe,  Dyce 
Richards,  the  Oregon  bear  hunter,  Tom  Bridler,  the 
whaler,  Hans  Kalbfloisch,  and  Ilory  O'Clogeran. 

About  ten  o'clock  the  band  entered  the  "  mott JJ 
where  Doctor  Waldeineyer's  party  had  been  captured. 
The  evidence  of  their  sojourn,  to  wit,  the  fire,  was  still 
visible  j  and  the  other  "  sign  "  soon  conveyed  to  the 
frontiersmen  all  the  knowledge  they  wished  to  obtain, 
for  old  Joe  needed  only  the  end  oj  a  string  to  onravel 
a  whole  clothes  line. 

Assembling  the  trappers  in  a  glade,  Joe  said  : 

u  The  fust  thing  to  be  did  is   to   discover    tbar  vil- 
lage 5   and   the   next   one — suthin7   else.     We'll  jump 
when  we  git  to  the  ditch.     I  want  ye  all  to  stay  byaiy 
in  this  eyedentical  spot,  whilst   Har'id  and   me   recon-- 
noitre.     Dyce  can  take  keer  o7  the  crowd,  or  else  I'm* 
cheated  in  the  man.77 

Away  rode  Joe  and  Harold,  spurring  their  horses 
into  a  lively  canter,  and  sweeping  presently  out  of 
sight  around  the  point  of  the  spur. 

In  due  time  the  village  of  the  Crows  was  seen 
nestled  in  a  nook  on  the  bank  of  the  stream.  It  was 
now  a  critical  position  in  which  the  two  hunters  found 
themselves,  and  old  Joe  suggested  the  propriety  of 
abandoning  the  valley  proper,  and  seeking  conceal- 


54  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

ment  in  the  adjacent  bills  which  girded  the  valley. 
Here  they  succeeded  in  finding-  a  very  desirable  loca- 
tion, a  sort  of  aerial  crib  where,  part  way  up  the  slope, 
they  could  conceal  themselves,  and  yet  have  an  unob- 
structed view  of  the  adjacent  village. 

"  Now  d'ye  see  that  tall  lodge  in  the  middle  o?  the 
village,  by  the  door  o'  which  is  a  crotched  stick,  an7 
on  the  stick  rests  a  lance,  an'  bows  an'  arrows,  and  a 
white  blanket?  Wai,  that's  the  chiefs  tent.  By  the 
side  o'  it  ye  perceive  a  little  tent,  with  a  great  red 
cross  painted  on  the  whitish  bnffler  skin  door.  That's 
whar  yer  gal  is,  or  else  Californy  Joe's  a  green-horn." 

"  I  see  f  I  see  !"  ejaculated  Harold. 

"  Wagh  !"  added  Joe.  "  Fve  an  idee.  Stay  hyar 
ontil  I  come  b^ick." 

Old  Joe;  rifle  in  hand,  disappeared  in  the  bushes. 


CHAPTEK  X. 

THE  hours  passed ;  so  protracted  was  old  Joe's  ab- 
sence become,  that  our  hero  grew*  uneasy.  Ah  !  a 
sound  reaches  his  ear. 

It  is  the  dip  of  a  paddle.  He  perceives  a  buffalo- 
hide  canoe  on  the  placid  stream  below.  It  is  a  frail 
craft  and  contains  two  persons.  One  is  an  Indian 
maiden.  The  other  is  a  white  man. 

He  peers  forward  and  examines 'the  man  carefully. 
Then  he  starts,  scarcely  repressing  an  exclamation  of 
surprise,  for  the  man  in  the  canoe  was  Kingfisher. 

"Ah!  the  canoe  lands/7  said  Glenclyffe,  in  mono- 
logue. "  The  two  have  stepped  out  upon  the  green 
sward.  NowT  they  have  seated  themselves  and  are 
conversing.  If  I  could  only  understand  their  barbar- 
ous tonene,  I  might  hear  something  of  my  darling. 
The  Indian  maiden  is  pretty.'7 

She  was  about  the  medium  height.  Her  hair  was 
black,  long,  and  gloss}7  ;  her  eyes  were  like  night ; 
her  features  were  sharp,  but  classically  regular ;  her 
figure  was  erect  and  graceful. 

With  this  proud  forest  beauty,  Kingfisher  seemed  to 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  55 

be  on  intimate  terms,  chatting  away  in  the  Crow  lan- 
guage with  great  volubility,  she  replying  earnestly, 
and  with  the  most  graceful  gestures. 

Forgetful  of  his  situation,  and  absorbed  in  the  scene 
before  him,  our  young  hunter  continued  to  watch  the 
couple  below  with  a  species  of  infatuation. 

All  at  once  a  terrible  thing  happened.  The  youth's 
foot  slipped,  and  he  found  himself  toppling  over  tho 
escarped  rock,  into  tho  stream  beneath. 

He  uttered  a  low,  quick  cry,  and  clutched  wildly  at 
a  cluster  of  vines,  which  grew  from  the  face  of  the 
rock. 

A  cry  of  surprise  comes  up  from  below.  Kingfisher 
recognizes  him  on  the  instant. 

"  Ho  !  Harold  Glenclyffe,  is  that  you  ?  Drop,  my 
lad,  the  water  is  deep.  A  good  ducking  won't  hurt 
you." 

The  maid  cried  out  in  tolerable  English. 

"  Fall  kill  pale  face.     No  drop." 

"  He  is  a  dangerous  fellow,"  said  Kingfisher.  u  Let 
it  kill  him.  He  will  make  trouble  in  the  village." 

"  He  no  die.  Kingfisher  must  save.  Quick,  or  he 
fall/7  urged  the  maiden. 

"  He's  my  enemy,"  replied  Kingfisher.  lt  Let  him 
die.  I  will  not  save  him." 

"  It  is  Bird  Song  who  speaks.  You  will  obey  tho 
daughter  of  Panther  Claw.  .Save  him  !" 

But  at  that  moment  the  vine  began  to  give  way, 
and  downward  plunged  the  young  hunter  with  fearful 
velocity.  He  was  submerged  instantly,  the  waters 
closing  over  him  with  a  surge. 

In  an  instant  Kingfisher  leaped  into  the  buffalo  hide 
canoe,  arid  was  at  the  spot.  Soon  the  water  parted, 
and  up  rose  Harold's  head.  The  pool  was  deep, 
and  he  was  not  harmed.  With  a  single  swoop  of  the 
paddle,  Kingfisher  knocked  the  trapper  senseless. 
Then  he  clutched  him  and  dragged  him  into  the  boat. 
With  a  dip  or  two  of  the  paddle  he  reached  the  shore, 
when  the  maiden  retorted  upon  him  scornfully. 

"  Kingfisher  has  t,he  heart  of  a  coyote.     He  is  afraid 


56  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

of  his  enemy,  he  has  stricken  him,  when  unarmed  and 
defenceless." 

"  Hum  !  you  are  free  with  your  tongue,  Bird  Song," 
said  the  other.  "  But  this  paleface  is  a  strong  man. 
In  an  equal  fight  he  would  destroy  me.  Now  we  have 
another  prisoner  for  Panther  Claw.  Let  the  great 
chief  of  the  Crows  say  whether  Kingfisher  was  right 
or  wrong,  Let  him  say  whether  Kingfisher  was  a 
coward  or  not." 

Poor  Harold  lay  senseless  at  the  bottom  of  the  buf- 
falo-hide canoe. 

"Let  the  daughter  of  Panther  Claw  walk  to  the 
village,"  said  Kingfisher,  "  and  I  will  paddle  the 
canoe  thither,  and  announce " 

With  a  sudden  bound,  Bird  Song  darted  toward  the 
paleface,  striking  him  with  both  hands  upon  the 
breast,  and  hurling  him  back  into  the  stream,  where 
he  fell,  after  making  nearly  a  complete  somersault. 

Then  the  agile  maiden  leaped  into  the  hide  canoe, 
caught  up  the  paddle,  and,  with  a  single  dip,  sent  the 
light  bark  into  the  middle  of  the  stream. 

"  Ah-ha !"  she  laughed,  tauntingly,  in  a  clear, 
melodious  voice,  as  sweet  as  the  wild  birds'  notes. 
"  Let  the  coyote  heart  of  the  Kingfisher  take  courage. 
Bird  Song  has  cheated  him  ©f  his  prey.  She  will  bear 
the  paleface  as  her  captive  to  the  lodge  of  Panther 
ClawV* 

With  these  words,  Bird  Song  urged  the  canoe 
swiftly  up  the  stream. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

WHEN  old  Joe  and  Glenclyffe  had  left  Byce  Rich- 
ards and  his  companions  in  the  little  grove  to  await 
their  return,  the  worthy  bear  iiunter  from  Oregon  did 
not  altogether  relish  the  situation.  He  was  a  man  of 
action,  and  would  have  greatly  preferred  to  go  with 
California  Joe  than  be  left  behind.  However,  he 
yielded  to  what  the  old  hunter  deemed  for  the  best, 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE,  57 

and,  being  in  an  enemy's  country,  took  the  necessary 
precautions  against  a  surprise. 

"  Reckon  California  Joe  '11  be  back  afore  night,  an' 
he'll  be  teetotal !y  disappointed  if  he  don't  find  us 
hyar,  au'  all  right  side  up.  Do  you  Hans  keep  a 
sharp  lookout  toward  the  perary,  for  if  thar's  danger 
coming  it'll  be  prancin'  in  from  that  direction." 

The  corpulent  Dutchman  assumed  a  suitable  posi- 
tion, and  spent  the  time  smoking,  watching,  and  wink-fe 
ing,  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  when  he  got  up,  shook 
his  le»'s,  and  said : 

" Py  shiminy  gripes!  vat  for  de  use  to  squat  here 
all  de  day  like  von  shicken  a-setting  on  her  eggs  ? 
Dere  ish  nodding  to  see  not  von  pit  novare  ever  so 
much.  Vat  pe  de  odder  ones  doing  all  this  vile  ?  Py 
dunder  1  I -vill  come  und  see.7' 

Hans  found  "  de  odder  ones"  sitting  under  the  trees 
in  various  comfortable  attitudes. 

"  Who  pese  going  for  to  get  supper  for  dish  crowd  ? 
Jch  bin  so  hungry  ash  I  never  vas  before.  Yaw;  who 
vill  get  de  supper  f 

"  Rory  0?Clogeran  says  he  has  found  a  bee  tree  in 
a  ravine  over  near  the  foot  o'  the  mountains,"  said 
Dyce  Richards.  <;  I  don't  see  why  we  hadn't  better 
make  a  dive  for  that ;  honey  is  good  eatin' — fit  for  a 
queen.  An7  whar  t bar's  honey ,  thar's  often  b'ars,  an7 
b'ar  meat's  good  for  the  stomach.  Wagh  !  I  say  let's 
go  for  the  bee  tree.'' 

All  hurried   arid  saddled  their   horses.     Then  they 
put  themselves  under  the  guidance  of  the  shrewd  Mi-  j 
lesian,  and  trotted  away  across  the  stretch  of  prairie 
which  lay  between  the  grove  and  the  not  far  distant 
Sierra. 

Pretty  soon  Rory  announced  that  they  were  draw- 
ing near  to  the  ravine,  and  Dyce  suggested  that  their 
guns  should  be  looked  to. 

"  For,"  said  the  cautious  hunter,  "  I've  often  found 
Vars  an'  Injuns,  too,  in  just  such  looking  spots  as  this. 
I  hope  thar's  b'ars,  but  I'd  rayther  ' pass'  on  the  In- 
juns jest  now." 


58  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

There  was  a  general  examination  of  weapons,  and 
everything  appearing  to  be  in  a  satisfactory  condition, 
the  party  hitched  their  horses  at  the  mouth  of  the 
gorge,  where  grew  a  thicket  of  wild  plurn  trees.  Then, 
Rory  acting  as  guide,  the  hunters  entered  the  canon. 

"  Begorra  !"  cried  the  Irishman,  "  wan't  it  the  blissid 
tlmith  I  was  tellin'  ye  ?  Here  is  the  tree,  an7  arrah  ! 
isn't  it  a  beauty  av  a  three,  too.  Hand  me  your 
hatchet,  Misther  Potts,  an7  I'll  show  ye  the  way  to 
whack  down  a  bit  av  a  bush.7' 

The  hatchet  was  sharp,  and  in  an  incredibly  brief 
time  the  tree  careened,  and,  being  hollow,  fell  to  the 
ground. 

A  swarm  of  bees  carne  sailing  out,  and  the  hunters 
were  compelled  to  beat  a  hasty  retreat. 

With  a  run  and  a  jump  Rory  sprang  into  the  adja- 
cent bushes  to  escape  the  assaults  of  the  furious  little 
creatures,  who  took  the  destruction  of  their  home  in 
high  dudgeon.  The  others  of  the  party  retreating  in 
better  time  escaped  unharmed, 

"  By  the  sowl  ov  me  grandmother !';  howled  the  Mi- 
lesian, "it's  clean  dead  I  am  entirely.  Och  hone! 
isn't  it  something  yez  can  be  afther  doin'  to  relave  a 
poor  crather  from  the  pangs  of  purgatory  P 

The  Milesian  was  really  badly  stung  about  the 
face  and.  hands,  and  no  doubt  suffered  intense  pain. 

In  spite  of  the  unfortunate  condition  of  their  friend, 
the  other  hunters  made  a  new  attack  upon  the  bee^ 
I  ree  ;  and  as  by  this  time  the  pugnacious  insects  had 
'settled  to  feed  upon  the  flowing  honey,  there  was  less 
danger  of  being  stung. 

The  long,  hollow  cavity  was  tolerably  well  filled 
with  the  delicious  substance,  and  huge  cakes  of  well- 
filled  comb  were  broken  off,  and  devoured  voraciously. 

"  Hyah  !  hvah  !''  screamed  Dyce  Richards.  u  A 
b'ar  !  a  b'ar  •!"* 

"  Mein  Gott  !  who  says  dat  F 

"  A  bear  !  two  on  'em,  by  hokey,"  cried  Tom  Brid- 
ler.  "  Starboard  your  helm,  there,  Hans,  or  the  crit- 
ters ?11  board  yer  quarter  deck." 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  •§ 

All  was  confusion  for  a  moment.  Two  enormous 
bears,  a  male  and  a  female,  came  bursting  out  of  the 
bushes  above,  and  were  now  hastening  forward. 

Dyce  Richards,  armed  only  with  his  stout  hunting 
knife,  leaped  forward.  As  he  bounded  past  the  honey- 
tree,  he  saw  the  sharp  hatchet  lying  on  the  ground,  and 
snatched  it  up  with  a  cry  of  joy. 

"  'Ware  thar,  ye  honey  thief  !"  roared  the  trapper, 
addressing  his  bearship,  as  if  the  creature  could  under- 
stand his  words.  *•  Hyar  comes  Dyce  Richards,  the 
b'ar  hunter  from  Oregon,  a  man  what  has  killed  more 
honey-eaters  than  ye  hev  ha'rs  on  yer  tail.  Wagh  ! 
yer  days  are  numbered,  old  sweet-tooth.'7 

Swinging  his  hatchet,  he  delivered  a  telling  blow 
over  the  bear's  skull.  "  How's  that  for  high,  ye 
honey-sucker?  Darn  yer  pictur." 

The  bear  was  badly  injured,  so  much  so,  that  Rich- 
ards easily  dispatched  him  with  a  few  additional  blows. 

The  male  bear,  an  enormous  old  fellow,  had  not 
quitted  the  gorge,  but  stood  near  its  mouth,  perched 
upon  an  overhanging  rock. 

Scarcely  had  Dyce  ceased  speaking,  when  Tom 
Bridler  rode  into  the  canon,  rifle  in  hand. 

He  glanced  eagerly  around,  to  get  an  eye  on  the 
bear ;  but  the  bear  saw  him  first,  and  uttering  a  hoarse 
growl,  ran  swiftly  toward  him.  „ 

The  old  whaler,  always  a  better  man  on  his  "  pins," 
than  astride  his  horse,  drew  up  his  gun,  and  delivered 
his  shot  at  close  range,  but  without  effect,  except  to 
enrage  his  bearship,  and  to  terrify  his  horse. 

The  horse  reared,  shied,  plunged  ab6ut,  and  snorted 
with  dumb  terror,  and  tossed  old  Tom  head  over  heels 
.into  an  adjacent  cluster  of  bushes- 

The  horse  fell  to  the  earth,  but  recovering  itself, 
was  speedily  on  its  feet  again. 

Meantime,  bruin  was  coming  down  the  deep  declivity 
at  a  thunderous  gait. 

Turn  to  either  right  or  left,  he  could  not  5  so,  for 
want  of  anything  better  to  do,  the  bear  bounded  upon 
the  horse's  back,  as  that  animal  was  getting  up. 


60  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

With  a  shriek  of  terror  tlie  dumb  brute  darted  first 
to  one  side,  then  to  the  other  of  the  gorge,  in  its  vain 
efforts  to  free  itself  of  its  strange  burden. 

Then  it  turned  and  shot  down  the  canon,  with  the 
speed  of  the  wind. 

'*  Stop  the  horse  F'  yelled  Dyce,  as  he  and  Rory 
wrent  at  full  speed  down  tlffc  declivity.  "  Potts, 
Potts  !  head  off  the  pesky  critter  \" 

The  loud  bang  of  Zerubabel's  shot-gun  rang  out  on 
'the  air,  and  all  hastened  down  to  see  what  might  be 
the  result  of  the  shot. 

"  What's  the  b'ar  ?"  cried  Dyce. 

"  On  the  horse,"  shouted  Potts. 

"Whar's  the  boss,  ye  fool  V 

"  That  fool's  horse,  eh  ?  He's  running  across  the 
prairie  like  mad.  Hain't  used  to  carrying  bears. 
Generally  carried  whales,  I  guess.  Did  you  say  good- 
bye to  the  nag,  Mister  Bridler?" 

Old  Tom  did  not  utter  the  retort  that  rose  to  his 
lips,  for  an  exclamation  of  surprise  was  heard  from 
Dyce  Richards,  who  pointed  across  the  open  stretch  of 
plain,  toward  the  grove,  which  the  four  hunters  had 
lately  left  and  said  : 

"  Mischief,  thar." 

"  Yaw  !  py  shure  dere  ish  somebody  koom  und  takes 
our  camp,  since  wese  peen  gone." 

"  Maybe  the  red-haired  trapper  has  come  back/7  said 
Potts,  alluding  to  Joe. 

Dyce  shook  his  head. 

"  Wagh  I  that-  cannot  be.  Californy  Joe  don't  sig- 
nal that  way.  I  tell  ye  thar's  mischief,  yonder.  That's 
an  Injin  fire.  An'  the  b'ar  isridin'  the  hoss  right  squar 
up  to  that  spot,  too.  I  don't  like  the  sitivation.'7 

"  Begorra  !  let's  mount  our  craythurs  an'  go  an7  gay. 
I'll  bet  a  peck  o'  peratees  that  it's  old  Joe  come  back. 
Fwhat  would  the  Tngines  go  an;  build  a  fire  for,  to  let 
us  know  they  were  fliarf  Wirra !  it  don't  sthand  to 
ray  son." 

The  old  whaler's  horse,  after  running  nearly  to  the 
prove,  discovered  that  it  was  unable  to  shake  off  its 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  61 

queer  burden,  for  llie  bear  clung  to  his  mane  with  fieice 
tenacity,  growling  and  snapping  all  the  while. 

The  horse  described  a  circle,  and  swept  in  toward 
the  grove  j  then  it  turned  away  again,  and  directed  its 
course  toward  the  mouth  of  the  gorge,  where  the  trap- 
pers were  standing. 

Suddenly  the  grove  seemed  alive,  and  half  a  score 
of  mounted  redskins  darted  out  to  give  chase  to  the 
mounted  bear.  I 

Into  the  narrow  gorge  dashed  old  Tom's  horse, 
bathed  in  foam,  nostrils  distended,  eyes  bursting  from 
its  head,  the  bear  snorting,  with  two  arrows  sticking 
in  its  skm.  The  next  instant  the  rattling  of  the  red- 
skins' horses  was  heard  on  the  hard  rocks,  and  in  came 
the  Crows  in  single  file  on  the  keen  jump. 

Crack  !  four  times  in  quick  succession  rang  out  the 
rifles  of  the  gold-hunters,  and  four  horses  were  riderless. 
The  other  savages  reined  up  their  steeds  on  the  instant. 
They  sat  stupefied  with  amazement. 

Hans  had  crawled  down  to  examine  the  dead  bodies 
of  the  slain,  whan,  glancing  out  of  the  gorge,  he  be- 
held something  that  made  him  hasten  back  under 
cover  again. 

"  Py  saurkraut  !  dere  is  vone  pig  army  of  red  duy- 
vals  a  koomin'.  Dey  ish  riding  ober  de  perary  like  de 
centuries,  py  shure.  Vat  shall  ve  do  ?" 

Dyce  leaped  down,  ran  to  the  mouth  of  the  canon, 
and  took  in  a  rapid  survev  of  the  plain.  About  twenty 
mounted  Crows  were  riding  at  a  moderate  pace  toward 
the  mountains. 

Arriving  at  long-rifle  range  from  the  base  of  tfee 
mountains,  the  Indians  halted,  and  at  once  placed 
themselves  in  such  a  position  as  would  effectually 
guard  the  mouth  of  the  gorge,  and  prevent  any  aban- 
donment of  the  spot  by  the  hunters. 

Darkness  quickly  fell;  but  with  the  shades  of  night 
were  dispelled  all  expectations  of  running  out  of  the 
gorge  under  cover  of  the  gloom.  The  redskins  went 
to  work  and  built  huge  fires,  that  made  the  adjacent 


62  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

prairie  as  light  as  day,  It  was  plain  that  a  "  cunnin' 
devil,"  as  Dyce  said,  "  led  the  varmints." 

The  hunters  looked  at  each  other  as  if  they  knew 
not  what  to  do  ;  but  presently  old  Richards  spoke  : 

u  Don't  let's  stand  gawping"  around  like  young  huf- 
fier calves.  Come;  there's  no  danger  <>'  the  redskins 
prowlin'  up  hyar  afore  mornin'.  \\Vlljiist  cut  up  that 
dead  she-b'ar  into  strips,  for  like's  not  we  may  hev  to 
live  on  h'ar  meat  for  severial  days,  an'  then  we'll  see 
what  t'other  eend  o'  this  gorge  looks  like.  If  thar 
hain't  no  outlet  thar,  we're  gone  to  pot  dead  beat.'7 

The  gold  hunters,  acting  upon  Dyce's  advice, 
whipped  out  their  knives,  flayed  the  dead  bear,  and 
saved  the  best  of  the  meat.  Then  they  began  to 
work  their  way  up  the  gorge,  as  well  as  they  could  in 
the  darkness. 

Pretty  soon  they  halted  suddenly.  A  small  light 
was  visible  far  ahead.  It  arose  from  a  fire  kindled  in 
the  gorge. 

By  exercising  unusual  skill,  the  bear  hunter  man- 
aged to  approach  within  ten  rods  of  the  fire.  He 
gazed  eagerly  at  it,  but  could  not  discover  any  person 
near. 

"  Gadamighfcy  !  hyar's  a  pooty  state  of  affairs.  That 
fire  didn't  start  itself,  an?  the  one  that  kindled  it  hain't 
far  off,  either.  Splugerarion  !  what's  this  ?  Sarprised 
royself.  No,  by  hokey  !  ye  don't  get  Dyce  Richards' 
scalp  'ithout  a  devil  o'  a  tussle — wagh  !" 

The  bear  hunter  had  felt  a  heavy  hand  laid  upon 
his  shoulder,  whilst  he  was  peering  at  the  fire ;  he  had 
leaped  bolt  upright,  had  whirled  about,  and  raised  his 
rifle,  to  strike  the  savage  whom  he  supposed  to  be  at 
his  heels,  with  uplifted  hatchet. 

He  beheld  a  tall  figure,  and  heard  a  hearty  voice 
chuckle: 

"  Clip  my  top-knot !  if  I  didn't  fool  the  Oregon  b'ar 
hunter  teetotally.  Ye  see,  with  all  yer  exparierice,  ye 
can't  steal  a  march  on  Californy  Joe.  Ha,  ha;  ha  !" 

"  Do  you  say  that's  your  fire  f 7 

"  Bartin.     I  heerd  ye  browsiri'  round  ten  minits  ago, 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOB.  68 

an'  went  out  on  a  scout ;  an'  whilst  ye  war  lookin'  for 
the  owner  o'  that  fire,  the  aforesaid  owner  ketched  ye. 
Whoop-er-up,  Dyce  !  yer  sold  to  the  Dutch  this  time. 
But  what  in  the  deuce  be  ye  prowlin1  round  hyar  for 
at  night  ?  I  thought  I  bade  ye  stay  in  the  grove  ontil 

I  returned;  explanify  the  sitivation,  if  ye  please.     I've 
no  doubt  thar's  a  good  reason  for  it,  old  bumkins,'1' 

"  We're  hyar  to  save  our  ha'r,"  said  Dyce. 

"Youp!  how's  that?     Redskins  'bout,  eh  F 

Dyce  gave  old  Joe  a  graphic  account  of  the  "  day's 
doings/'  at  which  the  old  trapper  snorted  with  impa- 
tience. 

'"'  Wai,  hyar's  pooty  consid'able  o'  a  snarl,"  said  he. 

II  Things  is  scrumptiously    tangled  up,  I  should  say. 
Ye  hev  lied  .bad  luck,  and  so  hev  1." 

"  So!  what's  the  matter?" 

"  Lost  my  boy  Har'ld.  Gone  castrut  into  the  paws 
o'  them  Crow  Injuns.  Hain't  no  idee  how  it  oame  to 
pass ;  but  he's  gone  up  a  gum  tree,  dead  shure.  Left 
him  on  the  mo  tin  tin  side  to  go  up  an'  rickanoiter  a 
passel  o'  Injuns  what  I  seed  a-chasin  a  big-horn,  an; 
when  I  got  back  to  the  spot  whar  he  ought  to  hev 
been,  he  wa'n't  thar." 

"Now,  then,"  said  Dyce,  "  what's  to  be  done?" 

"It's  a  sockdologer  o' a  question,"  said  Joe,  "an' 
I'll  admit,  what  with  Injuns  at  the  mouth  o'  this  canon, 
an'  Injuns  at  t'other  eend,  we're  eenamost  as  bad  oft 
as  yer  uncle  was  when  Rowdy  Bob  yanked  iiirn  out  o' 
the  hole  in  the  rocks ;  but  so  long  as  our  haVs  left/ 
t liar's  hope.  Go  an'  fotch  the  boys  an'  the  critters  up 
hyar." 

Dyce  hastened  to  perform  his  errand,  whilst  Califor- 
nia Joe  walked  slowly  toward  the  camp-fire. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

THE  arrival  of  Bird  Song,  daughter  of  Panther 
Claw,  the  sachem  of  the  Crows,  at  the  village,  with  a 
paleface  young  hunter  lying  senseless  'and  a  captive 


64  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

in  the  bottom  of  her  hide  canoe,  created  a  tremendous 
sensation. 

Panther  Claw  greeted  his  daughter,  and  praised  her 
prowess.  The  maid  claimed  the  captive  as  her  prison- 
er, and  Kingfisher  had  the  good  sense  not  to  destroy 
the  deception  by  any  unfavorable  remarks  of  his  own. 

Harold  Glenchffe,  who  had  not  received  any  serious 
injuries  at  the  hands  of  Kingfisher,  was  presently  re 
stored  to  consciousness  to  find  himself  near  enough  to 
his  beloved  Grace  to  suit  him,  but  not  in  a  condition 
to  do  her  much  good. 

To  the  rear  of  the  lodge  wherein  he  was  incarcerated, 
stood  a  similar  tent,  and  presently  the  young  hunter- 
caught  a  glimpse  of  a  face  at  the  wind-hole.  It  was 
the  face  of  a  white  man.  and  that  man  was  Karl  Wal- 
demeyer.  The  doctor  scowled  so  malignantly,  that 
the  young  hunter  gave  an  involuntary  start. 

.  "  Why  should  this  man  TValdemeyor  hate  me  so?" 
said  Harold  to  himself.  "  Tme,  ho  knows  by  this 
time  that  I  have  Grace  Cardington's  real  name,  and 
that  I  feel  deeply  fur  her  welfare  j  but  that  of  itself 
need  not  make  him  so  fiend-like,  I  am  sure.  If  I 
knocked  the  brute  down,  he  must  remember  that  it 
was  only  to  protect  the  woman  whom  he  claims  to 
adore." 

Harold  threw  himself  upon  the  robes  which  had 
been  furnished  him,  and  after  indulging  in  a  train  of 
confused  thought  for  some  time,  dropped  asleep. 

The  next  morning  our  young  hunter  was  surprised 
at  receiving  an  early  visit  from  Bird  Song,  the  sachem's 
daughter.  She  brought  him  his  morning  meal  upon  a 
rude,  wooden  tray,  with  a  gourd  of  clear  cold,  spring 
water. 

Harold,  who  had  eaten  nothing  since  the  previous 
morning,  was  ravenous,  and  fell  in  \\itli  an  appetite 
which  threatened  a  speedy  consumption  of  the  entire 
breakfast. 

Bird  Song  was  a  complete  strategist.  She  had  come 
on  this  visit  with  a  distinct  purpose  in  view,  and  who 
knows,  but  following  the  custom  of  more  civilized  tac- 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  65 

ticians,  she  Lad  determined  to  make^  her  approaches  by 
way  of  a  good  meal.  At  all  events,  she  was  too  cun- 
ning to  open  up  her  batteries  upon  a  man  with  an 
empty  stomach. 

"  The  paleface  warrior  is  contented  ?"  said  Bird 
Song.  "  He  likes  the  food  of  the  red  men  ?" 

"It  is   delicious;  I  thank   you  for  it,"  replied   the 
young   hunter,  eyeing   with  wonder  the  dusky  bean! 
before  him.     "  The  Crows  live  well." 

"  The  Crows  are  brave  warriors  j  they  have  in  their 
',odges  many  scalps  of  Sioux  and  Blackfeet.  They 
jjatch  the  buffalo,  the  big-horn,  and  the  Dear/'  said 
Bird  Song,  with  a  proud  air.  "  They  are  great  hun- 
ters. Panther  Claw  is  the  greatest  and  wisest  of  their 
sachems.  He  is  a  brave  chief,  and  Bird  Song  is  his 
daughter.  The  name  of  Panther  Claw  is  a  terrible 
name." 

When  the  maiden  had  closed  her  brief  address,  the 
hunter  said : 

"You  have  other  captives." 

The  maiden  gave  the  hunter  an  inquisitive  look. 

"Are  they  friends  of  the  trapper?"  she  asked. 

"  He  knows  the.n  both — the  white  man  and  the 
white  woman,"  said  Harold,  with  a  sudden  feeling  of 
caution,  for  which  he  could  not  account.  "  They  are 
in  your  village." 

"  The  truth  is  not  different  from  what  you  say,"  re- 
plied Bird  Song.  "And  there  will  be  more  captives 
in  the  village  of  the  Crows  before  the  sun  sets  in  the 
west." 

Grlenclyffe  started. 

"  What  does  Bird  Song  mean?" 

"Listen.  Te  white  man  and  the  white  woman  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  Crows.  Kingfisher  is  a  man 
with  two  faces,  and  his  tongue  is  double.  He  prom- 
ised to  guide  the  palefaces  to  the  fort ;  but  his  heart 
was  weak.  The  beauty  of  the  palefaced  girl  destroyed 
his  honesty,  and  he  brought  them  to  the  home  of  the 
Crows.  Kingfisher  has  asked  her  for  his  wife,  and 
Panther  Claw  has  said  yes." 


86  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

Harold  was  on  the  point  of  interrupting  the  speaker, 
so  great  was  his  surprise  to  learn  that  Kingfisher  had 
betrayed  Waldemeyer  through  a  sudden  passion  which 
the  wretch  had  conceived  for  Grace  j  but  the  girl 
waved  her  hand,  and  then  proceeded : 

"Good  luck  to  the  Crows,  we  captured  you  also. 
And  now  a  party  of  braves  is  absent  to  get  the  rest  of 
the  palefaces  who  are  on  the  prairies.  There  will  be 
many  prisoners  in  the  village  of  Panther  Claw,  to- 
night." 

"And  what  will  the  Crows  do  with  them  ?'? 

"The  council  will  decide  whether  they  shnll  be 
scalped  or  burnt  at  the  stake.  But  the  white  faced 
lily  will  be  spared,  and  the  young  hunter  who  is  now 
speaking  with  Bird  Song." 

'•'  Thanks  for  your  words,  Bird  Song.  Your  voice 
is  very  sweet  to  my  ears.  Why  are  the  lives  of  my- 
self and  the  white  maiden  to  be  saved  ?  Are  we  to  be 
restored  to  our  friends  "P 

11  The  hunter  said  the  food  which  Bird  Song  gave 
him  to  eat  was  good.  He  will  stay  in  {he  lodge  ot  the 
daughter  of  Panther  Claw,  and  Bird  Song  will  call  him 
her  husband.  As  for  the  white  maiden,  she  will  live 
in  the  Kinfisher's  lodge.  Kingfisher  is  very  powerful. 
He  is  the  son  of  tile  Spirit  of  the  mountain  that  speaks 
in  the  air,  and  kills  in  a  mysterious  way,  whose  home 
is  in  the  spring  that  boils  in  Summer.  When  the 
other  palefaces  come,  Bird  Song  will  come  again  and 
speak  to  the  Trapper  Brave.  Will  he  be  the  husband 
of  the  daughter  of  Panther  Claw  ?" 

The  young  hunter  was  in  a  quandary.  This  ab- 
rupt avowal  of  love  on  the  part  of  the  maiden,  fol- 
lowed up  by  a  proposal  for  marriage,  was  something 
that  Glenclyffe  had  been  far  from  anticipating ;  in- 
deed, it  kind  of  stunned  him  at  first. 

"  The  daughter  of  the  great  sachem  asks  a  most 
marvelous  thing.  Will  the  powerful  chief  of  the 
Mighty  Crows  consent  to  have  an  unknown  hunter 
for  his  daughter's  husband  TJ  asked  Glenclyfie,  de- 
siring to  delay  and  postpone  his  answer. 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  67 

"The  chief  has  already  consented/'  was  the  pronj 
reply  of  the  dusky  pleader. 

Foiled  in  his  first  attempt,  our  hero  returned  to 
the  defence  on  a  new  track. 

"The  chief  is  very  powerful.  His  word  is  law. 
His  name  is  a  terror  to  his  enemies  ;  his  son  should  be 
a  man  of  proven  valor  and  prowess.  The  daughter 
of  Panther  Claw  is  as  beautiful  as  the  flower  on  tho 
river's  bank.  Her  love  is  a  treasure  more  to  be  prized 
than  the  gold  of  the  valley  or  the  untold  wealth  of  the 
mountains.  With  the  maiden  he  loves,  the  young 
trapper  could  be  happy  as  the  big-horn  and  its  male  on 
tho  hillside." 

"The  heart  of  the  white  hunter  is  brave,"  inter- 
rupted Bird  Song.  "  His  lips  speak  words  that  come 
to  the  ears  of  the  daughter  of  Panther  Cla\V,  as  the 
drops  of  dew  refresh  the  wild  violets.  He  will  marry 
the  daughter  of  the  sachem  ?" 

"  The  white  hunter  dare  not  become  the  husband 
of  Bird  Song,  until  he  has  proven  himself  worthy  of 
one  so  lovely.  He  will  not  refuse  the  request  of 
Panther  Claw's  daughter,  but  he  will  say  this  :  he 
will  go  upon  the  hunt,  and  when  he  has  brought  to 
the  lodge  of  the  chief  the  skin  of  a  grizzly  bear, 
he  will  be  in  part  worthy  of  Bird  Song.  White 
Trapper  has  fpoken.  Are  his  words  pleasant  to 
Bird  Song  V 

The  dusky  maiden  had  proud  blood  in  her  veins. 
She,  like  other  Indian  maidens,  admired  the  coura- 
geous and  skillful  warrior,  and  so  she  said  : 

"White  Trapper's  speech  is  very  brave.  His  words 
are  very  ^pleasant.  Bird  Song  is  content." 

The  Indian  maiden  rose  quickly,  and  withdrew  from 
the  lodge. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

HAROLD'S  mind  was  alltopsy-turvey,  \vlien  left  alone. 
He  congratulated  himself  upon  his  strategy  and  success 
in  disposing  of  the  matrimonial  question. 


68  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

The  party  which  had  driven  the  hunters  into  bh*> 
gorge,  just  after  their  exploit  at  the  bee-tree,  was  Pan- 
ther Claw  and  his  Crows. 

There  was  one  thing,  however,  which  Ha  void  did 
not  quite  understand.  The  maiden  had  referred  to 
Kingiisher  as  being  tl  the  Son  of  the  Spirit  of  the 
Mountains,  that  speaks  in  the  air,  and  kills  in  a  mys- 
terious way,  whose  home  is  in  the  spring  that  boils  in 
Sum  trier*. 

Did  this  have  reference  to  the  mysterious  creature 
which  had  so  troubled  the  gold-diggers  in  Broken  Bluff 
Valley?  It  seemed  quite  probable. 

The  day  passed  by.  No  scouts  had  arrived.  Noth- 
ing was  known  to  indicate  the  results  of  the  expedition. 

This  prolonged  silence  was  construed  by  Harold  to 
foretell  (Disaster  to  his  friends. 

"  Stay  !  there  is  one  ground  of  Lope  left.  What 
am  I  thinking  of?  I  must  not  forget  old  Joe.  He 
will  not  be  captured,  I'm  sure.  And  if  he  is  at  liberty, 
I  need  not  altogether  despair.  All  my  hopes  in  life 
are  now  centered  on  Joe.  Will  he  fail  meV  Heaven 
forbid.77 

The  hunter  grew  uneasy,  restless,  desperate. 

His  knife  had  been  taken  from  his  belt  by  the  sav- 
ages, but  his  rifle !  His  heart  bounded  with  the 
thought.  It  was  safe  on  the  mountain -side,  no  doult. 

He  remembered  that  he  had  laid  his  gun  upon  the 
grass  of  the  plateau  whilst  awaiting  old  Joe's  return. 

Could  he  escape  from  the  village  and  reach  that 
point,  he  would  he  in  possession  of  weapons.  After 
that  he  might  find  Joe.  Who  could  tell  1 

Toward  night,  Harold  looked  out  of  the  windhole  of 
the  lodge.  He  observed  that  the  village  seemed  to  be 
quiet.  He  also  noticed  the  fact  that  the  sturdy  savage 
who  had  earlier  in  the  day  guarded  his  tent  Lad  disap- 
peared, and  that  in  his  stead  a  half-grown  Indian  lad 
sat  on  a  buffalo  robe  not  far  from  the  door  of  the  lodge. 

Why  was  it?  Had  Bird  Song  such  implicit  confi- 
dence in  his  promise  as  to  remove  the  stalwart  guard, 
and  make  Lis  imprisonment  a  nominal  one  ? 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE,  69 

It  was  after  midnight,  when  Harold  Glenclyffe,  af- 
ter scrutinizing  the  vicinity  carefully,  raised  the  buffalo 
robe  doorfLip  of  Iris  lodge,  and  crawled  upon  all  fours 
to  the  side  of  the  Indian  lad,  who  had  been  placed  on 
guard.  The  youth  had  fallen  fast  asleep,  his  lance 
lying  by  his  side,  and  his  knife  hanging  loosely  in  his 
belt.  Having  possessed  himself  of  the  latter  weapon, 
the  young  hunter  continued  his  course  toward  the  lodge 
with  the  red  cross. 

There  was  no  guard  here,  which  fact  led  Harold  to 
conclude  that  there  must  be  vigilant  sentinels  stationed 
upon  the  outskirts  of  the  village,  who  would  trouble 
him  .by  and  by. 

Drawing  aside  the  door-flap,  our  hero  crept  into  the 
terd,  and  then,  after  the  lapse  of  a  moment,  pronounced 
the  single  word  "  Grace  "  in  a  whisper.  Receiving  no 
response,  the  call  tvas  repeated  several  times,  but  with- 
out any  effect. 

Harold  was  in  a  dilemma.  Twice  he  made  the  cir- 
cuit of  the  tent.  It  was  empty  •' 

The  revulsion  of  feeling  was  terrible.  He  must 
abandon  the  woman  he  loved. 

Out  through  the  darkness  crept  the  young  hunter, 
feeling  his  way  slowly  and  prudently,  when  a  dark 
figure  loomed  up  directly  in  front  of  our  hero,  causing 
his  heart  to  beat  stupendous  throbs,  and  inducing  him 
to  clutch  the  handle  of  his  knife  convulsively. 

Aa  !  the  creature  wears  a  peculiar  garb — the  dress 
of  the  female  Crows.  The  person  is  a  squaw.  ^ 

He  leaped  to  his  feet,  he  caught  her  by  the  throat, 
and  stilled  the  voice  he  feared  to  hear;  he  bent  her 
by  main  force  to  the  ground  j  his  knife  gleamed  in  the 
starlight. 

All  at  once  the  blow  was  suspended,  the  hunter 
started  back  in  horror. 

"'Great  God  !  it  is  Grace  Cardington  !"  he  whispered, 
in  tremulous  tones.  "  Oh  !  what  an  escape. 

"  It  is  I,  Harold,"  said  the  maiden,  feebly. 

"In  Heaven's  name  what  are  you  doing  here,  and 
in  this  garb  P  demanded  the  hunter. 


70  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

"  Like  yon,  striving  to  escape." 

"  But  you  are  returning  to  the  village.  Are  yon  bo 
wildered  F 

"  No.  Listen  to  me/7  said  the  girl.  "  I  was  search 
ing  for  you  and  Karl  Waldemeyer.77 

"  What  !  for    that  bound/7  ejaculated  the    trapper. 

••able  to  conceal  his  indignation.     "  Leave  him  to  ; 

'7 . 
!t*. 

•  I  dare  not.     Should  I  abandon  him,  and   he   u;t 

.ay,  his  revenge  would  be  terrible.  I  tell  \ -.  , 
Harold  Glenclyffe,  you  know  not  what  you  ask  me  uj 
flo.  The  curse  is  on  me.  Go,  make  good  your  o\vn 
escape.  Leave  me  to  my  fate.'7 

"  You  do  not  love  me,  Grace  Cardington,'7  said  tho 
youth,  impulsively;  "or  you  wouL!  not  speak  thus. 
rrlie  presence  of  this  German  Doctor  is  a  curse  to  you  ; 
and  yet  you  prefer  captivity  with  him  (o  freedom  with 
me.  Grace,  you  will  drive  me  mad.  Again  I  entreat 
you,  come  with  me.  What  can  yon  expect  to  accomplish?7' 

"1  must  try  and  release  him." 

"  Grace,  you  are  mad.     Reconsider." 

"  On  one  consideration  I  will  reconsider  my  deter- 
mination,77 said  the  maiden. 

"  Oh  !  thanks.  Name  it.77  And  the  young  hunter 
kissed  the  maiden7s  hand. 

u  You  will  escort  me  to  a  secure  spot  outside  tho 
village.  There  I  will  remain  and  you  will  leave  me/7 

"  What — 'desert  you  ?  Abandon  you,  helpless  and. 
.  !:>ne  on  the  prairie  ?77 

"  Only  for  a  while.     I  expect   you  to  return  to   mo 
;'ter  you  have  released  Karl  Waldemeyer.     You  and 
he  will  return  together  to  me.77 

"Grace  Cardington/7  replied  Glenclyffe,  earnestly } 
u  you  ask  of  me  a  marvelous  thing,  but  for  your  sakft 
I  will  do  it,  or  die  in  the  attempt,  I  will  conduct  you 
to  a  safe  spot,  and  then  I  will  release  Waldemeyer.77 

"  Noble  soul  !77  said  the  maiden,  "  kiss  me,  and  we- 
will  go.77 

Harold  kissed  the  beautiful  gill,  and  taking  her 
hand,  the  two  renewed  the  attempt  to  leave  the  village. 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOB.  71 

CHAPTER   XTV. 

THERE  was  great  lack  of  watchfulness  in  the  village 
of  the  Crows,  on  the  night  in  question.  Panther  Claw, 
the  sachem,  and  his  most  renowned  braves  were  all 
away  on  the  war  path. 

So  it  happened  that  Harold  Glenclyffe  and  Graeo 
Cardington  met  but  a  solitary  sentinel  on  guard,  whc  i 
they  crossed  the  outskirts  of  the  village,  and  this  war- 
rior was  sound  asleep. 

Having  placed  the  maiden  in  a  position  of  security, 
our  hero  set  his  face  resolutely  toward  the  village  to 
keep  his  promise  to  his  beloved. 

The  way  having  been  so  lately  traversed  by  our 
hero,  was  by  no  means  difficult ;  and  presently  Harold 
found  himself  in  close  proximity  to  the  lodge  where 
was  kept  the  man  he  sought,  and,  being*  admitted,  he 
stooped  over,  and  put  his  hand  upon  the  slurnberer, 
who  awoke  with  a  start. 

"  Hist !  Karl  Waldemeyer,  speak  not  aloud." 

"By  Caesar!  who  are  you  that  wakes  me  up  so? 
Your  voice  is  that  of  a  white  man,"  said  the  doctor,  in 
4  voice  too  loud  for  prudence.  "  What  do  you  wish  V 7 

"  Hist !  I  say  j  I  am  sent  to  rescue  you  from  the 
\ands  of  the  Crows." 

"  Who  sent  you  T 

"  Grace  Cardington." 

"  The  devil !  you  mean  my  niece;  Bertha  Walde- 
meyer ?" 

"  I  said  Grace  Cardington.  She  awaits  you  outside 
the  village/'  replied  the  hunter.  "  Ask  no  further  ques- 
tions, for  each  moment  is  golden." 

The  two  men,  abandoning  the  lodge,  walked  in  a 
stooping  posture  some  thirty  yards,  until  they  had 
passed  beyond  the  inner  circle  of  tents. 

Waldemeyer  paused  abruptly. 

"You  are  Harold  Glenclyffe,"  said  he,  in  a  com- 
pressed tone  5  "you  are  my  enemy." 

"  I  do  not  deny  it  ;  you,  too,  are  mine/'  said  Harold, 


72  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

tersely.  "  But  what  lias  that  to  do  with  tlie  present 
movement  ?'7 

"It  lias  much  to  do;  you  ar'o  put  ting  me  under 
obligations  to  you  which  I  i!o  not  like." 

u  Well,  go  back,  then,  to  your  lodge/'  said  the  hun- 
ter, tartly. 

"My  niece  sent  you  thither,  you  say?" 

"  Zounds !  yes ;  but  don't  stop  here  to  palaver  about 
it.  We  are  yet  in  the  power  of  these  red  devils/' 

"Yon  have  intermeddled  with  my  affairs  enough  al- 
ready, Harold  GlenelyfTe,'7  cried  the  other,  hoarsely, 
like  an  enraged  jaguar.  "Let  it  end  right  here;  you 
think  to  marry  Grace  Cardington,  which  you  IH-VCT 
•will  do.  She  is  not  my  niece — 1  grant  you  that.  She 
will  be  my  wife  some  day.  You  have  released  me,  for 
which  I  thank  you,  just  as  1M  thank  the  devil  for  an 
hour's  respite  in  purgatory.  I  go  hence  to  the  spot 
where  you  say  Grace  is  secreted  ;  I  lead  her  thence  to 
civilization  and — marriage.  You  are  a  deceitful  inter- 
meddler.  Curse  yon  !  take  that/7 

During  his  speech,  Karl  Waldemeyer  had  grad- 
ually crept  toward  the  young  hunter,  and,  as  he  uttered 
the  closing  words,  he  leaped  forward,  and  dashed 
against  the  youth's  forehead  a  sharp  stone,  which  he 
had,  up  to  that  moment,  held  concealed  in  his  hand. 

Taken  entirely  off  his  guard,  the  youth  had  no  op- 
portunity to  parvy  the  blow,  but  receiving  it  in  its  full 
force,  he  sank  back  senseless  upon  the  earth. 

"  Cursed  vagabond!"  muttered  the  doctor,  bending 
over  the  prostrate  and  bleeding  form  of  the  noble 
vouth,  whose  generous  effort  to  save  him  he  had  just 
repaid  with  such  detestable  ingratitude,  "you  will  not 
trouble  me  again,  I  think.7' 

Without  further  delay  the  German  doctor  turned 
away,  and  walked  rapidly  through  the  adjacent  shrub- 
bery to  seek  the  hiding-place  of  Grace  Cardington. 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  73 

CHAPTER  XV. 

WE  left  old  Joe  sitting  by  bis  little  camp-fire, 
win  1st  Dyce  Richards,  tbe  Oregon  bear  hunter,  crept 
down  the  canon  to  bring  up  the  rest  of  the  gold  hun- 
ters and  their  horses. 

It  was  plain,  to  even  a  transient  observer,  that  the 
sturdy  old  trapper  was  not  easy  in  his  mind. 

"  The  hull  bottom  o7  the  pan's  busted  out/'  said  he, 
in  monologue,  "  an'  gold  dust,  an'  chunks,  an'  mud 
hev  all  gone  through  promiscuous.  It's  a  pooty  con- 
sid'able  o7  a  snarl  we've  got  into  for  sartin. 

"  Drat  the  owdacious  luck  !  I'm  down  in  the  chops 
'bout  Har'ld.  I  told  him  fair  an'  squar7  not  to  leave 
the  eyedentical  spot  whar  I  put  him,  an7  now  he's 
gone. 

"  Hyar,  too,  is  Dyce  an'  the  rest  on  'em  actin'  like  a 
passel  o7  fools.  I  mought  hev  knowed,  howmsoever, 
that  a  chap  what's  allus  huntin7  arter  b'ars  and  bee 
trees,  hain't  allus  hunky  on  Injuns.  Ha!  thai*  they 
come  now.7' 

The  rest  of  tbe  hunters  were  approaching,  leading 
their  horses.  Old  Joe  directed  them  to  tie  the  animals 
in  a  cluster  of  wild  crab-trees,  and  then  to  gather  about 
the  fire. 

In  a  few  minutes  old  Joe  kicked  the  fire  to  pieces, 
and  bade  the  hunters  sit  down  in  the  dark  and  talk 
matters  over. 

ulf  I  hain't  mistaken/'  said  he,  opening  the  subject, 
"  this  hyar  canon  opens  into  a  valley  a  piece  above  us  : 
but  I'm  afeevd  that  the  valley  is  only  a  offshot  o7  the 
bigger  valley  wharin  is  the  village  o7  the  Crows. 

u  Considerin7  that  to  be  the  sitivation,  we  are  in  a 
first-class  trap,  ekal  to  any  one  thet  Dyce  Richards 
ever  sot  for  a  cinnamon  b'ar.  For  if  we  go  down  the 
canon,  we  pitch  into  the  Injuns  a-outlyin7  at  the -mouth 
)'  the  gorge ;  an'  if  we  go  up  the  canon  into  the  little 
valley,  we'll  pooty  soon  find  ourselves  nigh  the  village 
o7  the  Crows.  It's  sort  o'  Try  in '-pan  on  one  side,  an' 
hot  coals  on  t'other,  an7  the  fish'll  git  scorched  ey  ther  way. 


74  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

"  The  only  thing  that  strikes  me  as  bein'  handy  to 
do,  is  to  perceed  up  the  canon  a  bit  to  a  cave  I  found 
to-day.  We  kin  make  it  sort  o'  headquarters  for  a 
while,  ontil  we  decide  further  what's  to  be  did.  If 
'twan't  for  Har'ld  an7  his  gal,  I'd  say  let  the  bosses  go, 
an7  climb  our  way  over  the  mountains." 

There  being  no  opposition  manifested  to  Joe's  propo- 
sition, the  pi.rty,  with  their  horses,  following  the  old 
hunter's  lead,  marched  up  the  canon,  which,  growing 
wider  as  they  advanced,  at  last  opened  into  the  little 
valley  spoken  of  by  Joe. 

The  cave  was  reached  in  dne  tim^,  and  taken  pos- 
session of  by  the  hunters.  It  was  on  the  side  of  the 
mountains,  not  very  high  above  the  level  of  the  plain. 
The  horses  were  "  side-lined  "  and  left  in  the  pastur- 
age below,  for  the  simple  reason  that  the  hill-side  \\as- 
too  steep  to  allow  their  ascent. 

"Now,  then/7  said  Joe,  "we  can't  better  ourselves 
as  I  know  of,  an'  we  may  as  well  go  to  sleep,  for  the 
deuce -knows  what  we  may  hev  to  ondergo  on  the  mor- 
row. Turn  in,  boys,  an'  reel  it  off  lively;  it  must  he 
midnight  now." 

California  Joe  was  up  the  next  morning  betimes, 
trying  to  "  diskiyer  the  lay  o'  the  land/'  as  he  snid. 
Tiiis  was  readily  accomplished  ;  indeed,  the  old  fellow 
made  some  discoveries  that  were  not  altogether  to  his 
satisfaction. 

He  beheld  a  huge  pile  of  almost  impassable  moun- 
tains, stretching  from  east  to  west.  To  the  right  were 
more  mountains,  through  which  wound  the  canon  they 
had  traversed  the  night  before.  The  valley  before 
them  was  girted  in  on  two  sides  by  a  semi-circular 
range  of  rough,  forbidding  hills,  impassable  for  horses, 
if  not  for  men.  In  front  of  the  cave  stretched  the 
little  valley,  and  through  an  opening  beyond  could  be 
discerned  far  away  the  village  of  the  Crows. 

Old  Joe  walked  down  the  canon  moodily,  with  Dyce 
Richards  following  at  his  heels. 

"  Thar's  no  excuse,  Dyce/'  said  he,  as  they  walked 
along,  "for  you  an'  me  bein'  ketched  up  short  this  w*y. 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  75 

We  made  a  mistake  in  hevin'  them  two  fools  along1 
with  us.  Rory  is  fit  for  a  teamster,  an'  nothin'  else ; 
the  old  Yankee  is  a  natural  fool  anyhow.  He'd  do 
better  in  a  lunertickle  asylum,  than  contendin'  against 
Injuns  an'  sech." 

"  Yer  correct,  Joe,"  said  Dyce,  in  a  low  tone. 
"  No  man's  any  bizness  on  the  perary,  as  can't  larn  to 
save  his  sculp  quick.  If  he  can't  do  that,  he'd  better 
utay  out  o'  the  regions  o'  whoops  an'  sculpin'-knives." 

When  they  had  reached  the  point  where  Joe  had 
kindled  his  fire  the  night  before,  they  paused  a  few 
minutes  to  examine  some  curious  tracks,  which  seemed 
to  have  been  made  since  their  abandonment  of  the 
spot. 

There  was  visible  a  trail  which  approached  the  fire 
from  the  mountains  on  the  right.  It  was  the  track  of  a 
a  grizzly  bear,  as  Joe  quickly  declared,  upon  examina- 
tion. There  was  nothing  particularly  wonderful  about 
this  j  but  the  fact  that  the  tracks  disappeared  at  the 
fire,  was  not  so  easily  accounted  for.  Another  trail 
was  also  apparent,  starting  at  the  fire  and  leading  to 
tbe  opposite  side  of  the  canon,  and  disappearing  when 
the  rocky  surface  was  reached.  This  was  a  man's 
trail. 

Where  did  the  bear  go  to,  when  it  had  reached  the 
fire  ?  How  did  the  man  get  to  the  fire  without  leaving 
his.  footprints  ? 

The  hunters  looked  puzzled. 

"It's  a  man-grizzly,"  said  Joe,  at  last.  "Some 
durnation  Injun's  been  prowlin'  around,  wearin7  a 
grizzly's  skin,  an' — hist  !  boy,  look  tbar." 

Old  Joe  pointed  to  the  top  of  an  adjacent  ridge  of 
rocks,  which,  apparently  inaccessible  from  the  spot 
where  the  hunters  stood,  ran  along  the  mountain's  side. 

"  A  grizzly,  by  hokey  !"  ejaculated  Dyce. 

"  So  I'd  hev  thought  hed  I  seed  it  an  hour  ago  \ 
but  now  I  don't.  That  grizzly  is  a  man  disguised. 
Mebby  it's  Panther-Caw  himself." 

Forward  walked  the  trappers  at  a  brisk  pace  for  five 
minutes,  casting  sharp  glances  about  them,  until  a  sec- 


76  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

ond  halt  occurred.  This  time  it  uas  brought  about  by 
a  startling  occurrence — nothing  less,  indeed,  than  the 
dropping  of  an  arrow  at  their  very  feet. 

The  two  hunters  darted  behind  some  rocks,  and 
when  sure  of  their  immediate  gaiety,  began  to  peer  out 
to  examine  the  situation. 

"  That's  a  Crow's  arrow/'  said  Joe,  examining  the 
weapon  which  Dyce  had  picked  up.  u  See,  thar's  a 
fox's  tail  tied  to  it.  That  means  that  some  lig  Tn- 
jmi's  prowlin'  round.  Whar  d'ye  s'pose  the  ]'><••  l\v 
thing  was  shot  from?  I  don't  see  any  p'int  \\Lar  tht 
Injuns  could  hide  round  hyar,  do  ye  f 

uNo.  The  pass  is  level,  an'  we  kin  see  for  tvaiity 
rod  straight  ahead.  Injuns  inonght  scronge  jihng  j.n; 
hide  behind  some  angles  that  we  can't  see,  but  1  can't 
parceive  how  they  can  shoot  at  us,  'thout  being  seen. 
The  fact  is " 

"  Whoop  her  up  !  wan't  that  a  close  un  ?  Gad- 
a-mighty  !  old  b'ar-hunter  did  ye  ever  see  the  like  o; 
that  ?  Under  this  ledge  quicker'n  scat,  or  yer  head 
won't  be  worth  a  thimble  full  o7  Taos  whisky." 

Saying  which  Joe  caught  Dyce  by  the  collar,  and 
\\ith  a  single  bound,  landed  under  the  shelter  of  an 
overhanging  rock. 

The  cause  of  his  sudden  consternation  was  this.  A 
huge  boulder,  the  size  of  a  man's  head,  came  whizzing 
down  through  the  air,  striking  the  flags  almost  at  Joe's 
leet,  and  smashing  the  stone  into  a  dozen  fragments. 

"  Injuns  in  the  canon,''  said  the  bear-hunter.  "  See 
Vm  sneakin'  in  yonder." 

California  Joe  did  see  them.  He  primed  hi  a 
" Greased  Lightning"  afresh  and  ground  his  teeth 
moodilv. 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  77 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

How  many  Crows  were  creepin'  up  the  canon,  it 
was  difficult  to  tell.  That  they  were  aware  of  the 
proximity  of  the  whites,  and  were  governing  them- 
selves accordingly,  was  quite  plain. 

"  If  'twairt  for  that  butter-sucker  up  on  the  cliffs, 
over  our  heads,  I'd  not  keer  two  percussion  caps  for  a1 
score  o'  them  sneaky  Crows  ;  but  when  a  chap's  try  in7 
to  watch  out  for  his  nose,  he  don't  like  to  hev  his  skull 
ka-wholloped  in  on  the  suddint.  Do  you  know,  Dyce, 
toy  boy,  that  I'm  consumed  about  that  same  man- 
grizzly  up  tharf  said  old  Joe. 

Joe  caught  sight  of  the  man-grizzly  far  up  the  cliffs, 
standing  erect,  and  ready  with  poised  stone  to  launch  the 
missile  upon  the  heads  of  the  hunters.  His  rifle  ex- 
ploded, and  the  grizzly  was  seen  to  stagger,  then  to 
clutch  the  rock  and  slide  quickly  out  of  sight. 

California  Joe  had  looked  to  see  the  creature  como 
tumbling  down  head  first  into  the  gorge  5  but  in  this 
he  was  doomed  to  disappointment.  The  only  satisfac- 
tion he  really  had,  was  in  the  probability  that  ho 
"  plugged  the  varmint."  A  chorus  of  dismal  yells 
from  the  savages  strengthened  this  belief  in  the  mind 
of  the  hunters. 

"  Pm  not  sartin  yet/'  said  Joe,  "  that  my  man-griz- 
zly is  mortal  hit — ah  !  see  that.  Hyar  comes  a  bigger 
rock  than  ever.  We're  like  a  couple  o'  grains  o'  corn 
a  pounded  atwixt  two  mill  stuns.  What,  with  Injuns 
in  front  a-whangin'  arrows  at  us,  an'  grizzly  b'ars 
prancin'  round  like  circus  bosses  on  top  o'  the  cliffs  a 
shootin7  rocks  onto  our  heads,  Pm  sort  o'  thinkin' 
we're  in  a  pooty  considerable  o'  a  snarl.  Pve  been 
doubting  the  properiety  o7  our  remainin'  hyar  any 
longer,  for  this  hyar  reason.  These  pesky  Crows 
may  know  so^e  back  alley  by  which  they  kin  git 
in  behind  us  an'  so  cut  us-  otf  from  girtin'  back  to  the 
cave.  I'd  rayther  be  riddled  with  arrows  than  be  out- 
witted in  that  way,  for  I  can't  bear  to  hev  an  Injun 


78  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

larf  at  me.  Fll  tell  ye  what.  It's  a  mile  to  the  cave. 
We  hev  found  out  that  the  Injuns  are  hvav.  We'll 
withdraw.  Mind  ye  Dyce,  it  ain't  cause  we've  got 
licked,  for  we've  guv  'em  better  than  they've  sent  so 
far  ;  but  it's  only  on  account  o'  our  'straordinary  dis- 
creshun.  Come,  now,  we'll  fall  back.  I'll  watch  ou» 
heads,  an'  do  ye  watch  our  noses,'7 

Away  sped  the  two  trappers,  with  all  the  velocity 
rSicv  could  attain,  straight  up  the  canon,  now  opening 
into  the  valley,  never  pausing  for  a  single  second  to 
cast  any  looks  behind  them. 

"  Rifles,  trapsacks,  blankets,  pizen,  bullets,  swords, 
cannon,  air*  cavalry,  hain't  o'  iio  account  now,"  shouted 
old  Joe,  as  he  leaped  forward  in  huge  bounds 

Up  the  ascent  dashed  the  two  hunters,  now  well 
blown,  for  the  speed  which  they  had  made  was  some- 
thing marvelous.  They  were  now  not  two  hundred 
yards  from  the  mouth  of  the  cavern. 

Suddenly  a  rumbling  sound  was  heard,  and  on  look- 
ing upwards  the  fugitives  descried  the  cause.  An 
enormous  rock,  weighing  many  tons,  had  been  de- 
tached from  the  upper  cliff,  and  was  coming  thunder- 
ing down  the  declivity,  with  constantly  accelerating 
speed. 

The  two  hunters  were  directly  in  the  path  of  this 
huge  bulk,  and,  from  the  peculiar  conformation  of  the 
declivity,  there  seemed  to  be  no  way  of  escape  from  its 
course,  for  the  rock  was  almost  upon  them  ere  the  im- 
minence of  the  danger  was  perceived. 

"  Whoop  her  up  !  We're  in  for  a  squeezin7  now," 
said  Joe,  glancing  rapidly  about  him.  "  Quick  !  thar's 
a  leetle  chance  o'  gettin'  out  o'  the  way.  Foller  me  !'; 

Joe  bounded  forward  with  the  speed  of  an  antelope, 
and  just  escaped  being  caught  by  the  whirling  stone. 

But  the  bear  hunter's  foot  slipped,  and  he  was 
hurled  to  the  ground.  A  wild  screech  from  the  moun- 
tain top  rent  the  air  •  a  long,  defiant  yefcl,  that  seemed 
to  be  full  of  devilish  exultation.  It  was  the  voice  of 
the  man-grizzly,  who,  having  reached  the  point  in 
question,  by  an  effort  that  seemed  superhuman,  had 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  79 

set  in  motion  the  enormous  stone,  and  was  now  dan- 
cing about  in  tierce  delight,  at  the  results  of  his  fiend- 
ish ingenuity. 

Old  Joe's  rifle  was  thrown  upward  like  a  flash  ;  his 
finger  pressed  the  trigger,  and  the  sharp  ring  of  the 
old  hunter's  gun  was  mingled  with  the  eldritch  yell  of 
the  man -beast. 

The  smoke  cleared  away,  and  eagerly  the   stalwart 
trapper  looked  aloft  to  see  what  might  be  the  result  of  i 
his  shot. 

The  man-grizzly  stood  erect  upon  its  hind-legs  paw- 
ing the  air,  and  uttering  defiant  screams.  Old  Joe 
shook  his  head,  and  lowered  his  rifle. 

"  Clip  my  top-knot  !"  he  ejaculated.  "  Now  I'm 
dead  sartiu  convinced  on  that  point.  When  Greased 
Lightning  fails,  I  know  suthin's  wrong.  I  thought  I 
know'd  what  that  cussed  varmint  was,  and  now  I'm 
clean  satisfied." 

The  whiz  of  an  arrow,  followed  by  the  discordant 
whoop  of  the  Indians,  who  had  reached  the  sumach 
below,  cut  short  Joe's  soliloquy,  and  drove  him  to  seek 
refuge  in  the  cavern. 

Dyce,  who  had  anticipated  a  fearful  end,  leaped  to 
fiis  feet  the  instant  the  truth  was  known  to  him,  and 
with  a  gush  of  devout  thankfulness,  caught  up  his 
rifle  and  followed  Joe,  entering  the  cavern  at  his  heels. 

The  rest  of   the  little    band  were   delighted  at   the 
return  of  the  scouts,  whose  race   and  final   marvelous 
escape  they  had  witnessed  in  breathless  silence,  utterly  j 
impotent  to  assist  their  comrades.  | 

t(  Here,  boys,"  said  Dyce,  In  an  excited  tone,  "  this 
way  5  the  pot's  bilin'  already/7 

All  rushed  to  the  mouth  of  the  cavern. 

The  sumachs  below,  and  the  hazel  bushes  which 
covered  the  mountain  side  from  the  base  to  the  vicinity 
of  the  cave's  mouth,  were  all  in  a  rustle. 

The  Crow  warriors  were  evidently  making1  a  general 
advance  in  a  body. 

Oid  Joe  dropped  upon  his  knees,  leveled  his  rifle, 
and  leu  drive  at  a  sumach  bush. 


80  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOB. 

The  sharp  howl  which  followed,  indicated  that  some- 
body had  been  hit. 

"  Yawp  !  do  dance  isli  began.  It  vill.be  von  lively 
gallop,  py  sure !  Let  dish  old  boss  have  de  next 
chance,"  grunted  Hans,  occupying  the  spot  which  old 
Joe  had  vacated,  as  soon  as  ho  had  emptied  his  gun. 

A  volley  of  arrows  came  hurtling  through  the  air, 
pattering  upon  the  rocks,  around  the  cavern's  mouth, 
like  a  tempest  of  hail,  one  or  two  penetrating  the  cave, 
and  causing  a  lively  movement  among  the  occupants 
thereof. 

4<  Hyar,"  said  Joe,  noticing  that  Hans  hesitated  to 
fire.  "  Come  out  o'  range.  Roll  that  rock  up  to  the 
openiu'.  It'll  stop  up  half  the  hole,  an'  leave  a  crack 
one  side  big  enough  to  poke  'Greased  Lightnin" 
through.  That'll  keep  'em  back,  I'll  bet." 

This  new  arrangement  was  quickly  made,  and  then 
old  Joe,  dropping  upon  his  knees,  and  sheltered  by 
the  rock,  peered  through  the  crack  at  the  sumach  and 
hazel. 

Whenever  he  saw  a  rustle  he  sent  a  bullet,  and 
present!)7  not  a  movement  of  the  bushes  could  be  seen 
n  any  quarter,  for  the  Crows  perceived  that  to  move 
was  to  invite  death. 

This  arrangement  operated  most  advantageously  for 
the  hunters. 

They  were  now  permitted  to  rest  a  moment.  Old 
Joe,  lying  behind  the  rock,  with  his  deadly  rifle,  was 
a  terror  to  the  Crows,  who,  though  brave  as  any  red- 
skins, had  no  courage  to  expose  themselves  to  certain 
destruction. 

After  keeping  up  this  situation  for  an  hour,  it  was 
evident  that  the  savages  were  withdrawing — or?  at 
least,  a  part  of  them  were. 

"  Begorra !  an1  it's  a  blissid  minit  this  is,  when  the 
red  naygurs  are  getting  tired  uv  the  bizness.  Now 
if  the  dhirty  blackguards  will  jist  lave  our  horses 
alone,  an7  go  about  their  own  matters,  an'  not  worry  us 
any  more,  bedad,  it's  a  good  word  I'll  spake  for  thim, 
whin  I  return  to  the  gem  av  the  say — Owld  Ireland." 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  81 

"  Whist !"  said  Dyce  ]  u  they're  not  gone  far  away. 
Ye  need  not  thank  them  yet/' 

"  So  much  the  worse  for  thim,  then.  Bedad  !  an'  if 
they  think  a  Paddy's  good  word  isn't  worth  something 
it  shows  they're  mighty  conceitful  crathers." 

"  The  redskins  are  only  gittin'  out  o?  the  range  o' 
Greased  Lightnin',"  said  Joe,  with  a  chuckle.  "  WV11 
liev  a  reg'iar  Sunday  o'  it  from  now  ontil  daik,  I  sus- 
pect. The  critters  thinks  we're  sbet  up,  sartin,  an' 
can't  git  away,  an'  for  all  I  know,  they  are  right.  The 
pesky  cavern  looks  black  as  tophet  in  thar,  an'  I 
hain't  no  idee  whar  it  goes  to. 

"  If  the  Injuns  are  goin'  to  lay  still,  we  mought  .be 
a-lookin'  into  the  matter,  an'  see  whether  thar's  any 
chance  o'  gettin'  out  o'  this  bottle,  o'  which,  I  confess, 
I  hain't  any  expectivation  at  all." 

11  Wai,  if  ye  says  so,  captin,"  said  Tom  Bridler,  the 
old  whaler,  u  we'll  up  anchor  an7  sail  off  on  an  explor- 
in'  expedition.  It  isn't  likely  we'll  find  the  North 
Pol<3,  nor  Semmes'  Hole  ;  but,  egad  !  who  knows  but 
we  may  find  a  channel  that  will  carry  our  fleet  out  o' 
this  confounded  shoal  water?  Do  ye  think  ye  can 
d  fend  the  mouth  o'  the  grotto  if  we  go  huntin'  arter 
ite  tail?" 

"  Defend  this  hyar  spot !"  snorted  old  Joe,  scorn- 
fully. "Clip  my  top -knot!  if  I  can't  hold  it  agin 
forty  Crows  ontil  dusk.  Still  thar's  no  use  in  all  o'  ye 
desertin'  a  feller.  I  reckon  one  or  two  ought  to  be 
enough  to  s'arcli  for  the  bottom  o'  this  hole.  Hans, 
you  an'  Bridler  go,  an'  Dyce  will  stay  with  iue.  The 
Yank  and  Irishman  may  do  as  they  please." 

"  Koom  on,  Mynheer  Tom,"  said  Hans,  with  a  grunt 
like  that  of  a  wild  boar.  "  Ve  will  pooty  soon  makes 
hi;;;  all  so  clear  ash  de  sun  at  noonday.  Yah!  Ich 
vili  go  ahead/7 

"What  shall  we  do  for  a  light  f 

"  Mcin  Gott !  dat  ish  a  fact.  Dere  ish  no  torch  nor 
caudle  here,  xp y  shure  1  But  we  shall  go  so  far  ash 
ever  we  can  mitout  any- torch.  Koom." 

The  two  explorers  were   gone  something  like  five 


62  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

minutes,  when  a  terrible  noise  was  heard  issuing  from 
the  depths  of  the  gloomy  cavern.  It  consisted  of  a 
series  of  frightful  howls,  utterly  unlike  the  cry  of 
either  man  or  beast,  and  pretty  soon  the  burly  Dutch- 
man came  tearing  at  full  speed  out  of  the  darkness. 

"  Yaw  up  !  mein  Gott  in  Himmel !  it  was  one  gross 
duyvel,  mit  horns  a  yard  long,  und  a  tail  as  long  *«s 
three  arms,  und  dere  vas  fire  nnd  schmoke  a-kooiuing 
« Mit  of  his  mout.  Yaw  !  danks  to  de  Lor7  Ich  vas  not 
"lulled  all  dead  to  once,  py  snicketrigger !" 

"By  mighty!  Hans  Kalbfleisch,"  roared  old  Joe. 
"  what  tomfolderol  is  all  this  f  Thar  hain't  nothin'  <>' 
the  devil  sort,  as  I  knows  o7  round  these  parts.  W liar's 
Tom  Bridler  ??> 

"  De  whalerman  ish  gone  dead,  py  shure !  Dish 
beast  run  his  horn  clear  through  him  shoos*,  as  von 
Dietcherrnan  stick  his  knife-  through  his  Sweitzer 
cheese,  und  mein  Gott  how  de  hunter  groan." 

Old  Joe  leaned  against  the  wall  to  reflect,  when 
various  grumbling  noises  reached  his  ears.  He  was  at 
a  loss  to  account  for  them.  He  now  determined  to 
light  his  torch  of  bear's  fat. 

Having  struck  a  match  and  ignited  the  torch,  lie 
stuck  the  end  of  the  arrow  into  a  crevice  in  the  rock, 
and,  creeping  upon  his  hands  and  knees  for  some  dis- 
tance, hid  himself  behind  the  projection  of  a  yharp 
angle. 

All  at  once  a  wild  cry  was  heard,  apparently  issuing 
from  one  of  the  lateral  passages.  It  was  a  prolonged, 
piercing  tone,  which  died  away  gradually,  ending  in  a 
tremulous  quaver,  like  the  expiring  voice  of  a  man  in 
mortal  agony. 

The  next  instant  the  cry  was  repeated  louder,  and 
in  more  penetrating  accents  than  before. 

A  shufflng  sound  was  heard,  approaching  nearer 
each  moment.  Old  Joe  kept  himself  well  concealed 
in  the  shadow  of  the  rock,  holding  his  trusty  rifle  in 
both  hands,  with  his  eagle  eyes  bent  intently  upon 
lhn  opposite  opening. 

Suddenly,  with  a  piercing  cry,  the  hitherto  invisible 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  83 

creature  bounded  info  sight.  Even  old  Joe  could  not 
restrain  an  exclamation  of  surprise,  though  big  nerves 
were  like  iron. 

The  monster  seemed  to  be  a  combination  of  man 
and  beast.  It  stood  erect,  some  eight  feet  high.  Its 
bead  was  like  that  of  a  buffalo  bull  •  huge  horns  pro- 
truded from  its  forehead,  and  a  shaggy  mane  dropped 
upon  its  shoulders;  its  body  was  covered  with  fur.  In, 
ir.s  fore  paws  it  wielded  a  huge  lance,  like  those  of  the' 
Indians.  A  bluish  flame  spirted  from  its  mouth. 

The  very  instant  this  creature  burst  into  the  cavern, 
the  bear's  fat  torch  dropped  to  the  floor,  and  went  out,  • 
leaving  everything  lurid  with  the  horrid  flames  which 
burst  from  the  creature's  mouth. 

The  same  moment  the  roar  of  Joe's  rifle  resounded 
through  the  passage. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

BY  the  reader's  permission,  we  will  return  to  the 
fortunes  of  our  hero,  Harold  Glenclyffe,  whom  we  left 
lying  insensible  in  the  outskirts  of  the  Crow  village, 
bound  hand  and  foot  by  his  rival,  the  German  doctor. 

When  the  young  hunter  came  to  consciousness,  he 
began  to  realize  the  unhappy  situation  in  which  he  was 
placed. 

What  could  be  -done  to  mitigate  the  perils  of  his 
position  ? 

Suddenly  he  started  with  apprehension.  The  noise 
of  an  approaching  footstep*  struck  upon  his  ear.  He 
glanced  eagerly  about  him. 

A  person  is  corning  toward  him.  It  is  an  Indian. 
More  than  that,  it  is  a  woman.  Harold's  heart  throbs 
fiercely.  Can  it  be  Grace,  corning  to  rescue  him? 
She  wore  the  garb  of  a  savage.  Joy  !  it  must  be  she. 

The  thought  was  on  him  to  cry  out.  and  he  did  so  : 

"  Brave  girl !  you  have  come  to  my  rescue.  Your 
soul  is  so  noble;  you  are  worthy  the  love  of  a  king. 


84  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

Now,  indeed,  I   know   that   you   love  die  poor,  white 
hunter." 

The  *maiden  leaped  forward  with  the  grace  and 
agility  of  a  fawn.  She  knelt  at  the  side  of  the  youth. 
ful  trapper.  She  passed  her  hands  over  his  forehead- 
She  pressed  it  with  her  lips,  and  said: 

"Bird  Song1  dreamed  that  the  paleface  was  in  dan- 
ger. The  night  bird  whispered  it  in  her  ear,  and 
sleep  deserted  her  couch.  What  has  happenecT  to  the 
great  hunter  of  the  palefaces?  Who  has  thus  confined 
his  limbs  1  Speak,  and  Panther  Claw  will  rend  that 
warrior  in  pieces." 

Harold  was  stupefied  for  a  second.  The  maiden 
was  Bird  Song,  and  not  his  beloved  Grace.  He  re- 
plied : 

u  Alas  !  Panther  Claw's  braves  did  not  do  this  foul 
deed  5  it  was  the  work  of  the  white  medicine  man.  He 
is  a  man  whose  art  teaches  him  many  secrets.  He 
knew  that  I  told  you  that  when  the  scalps  of  the  Sioux 
were  in  my  lodge  I  would  marry  you,  and  "<je  was 
angry  thereat.  He  came  to  my  lodge,  having  released 
himself  by  his  mysterious  power  from  his  own  bonds, 
and  bade  me  follow  him.  I  could  not  resist,  and  when 
we  reached  this  spot  he  told  me  we  must  leave  the  vil- 
lage— that  he  commanded  me  to  follow  him  hence.  I 
refused,  saying  that  Bird  Sor*g  loved  me,  and  would 
make  me  a  great  sachem  of  the  Crows.  When  lie  saw 
my  determination  not  to  go,  die  bad  medicine  man 
struck  me  senseless,  and  then  bound  me  thus.  Release 
me,  beautiful  girl,  from  these  thongs,  that  I  may  re- 
turn with  you  to  the  lodge." 

The  Indian  maiden  stooped  quickly  and  unbound 
the  hunter's  limbs.  Then  Harold  arose  and  encircled 
her  waist  with  his  arm. 

"  Say,  beautiful  Bird  Song/'  said  he,  in  a  low  tone, 
"has  Panther  Claw  not  yet  returned  to  the  village^ 

u  The  sachem  is  still  absent." 

11  Has  his  daughter  a  brave  heart  f' 

"  The  white  hunter  should  know  that  \>y  this  time." 

"  When  will  the  chief  come  back  ?" 
V 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  85 

"Bird  Song  cannot  tell." 

"  The  hunter  has  lain  so  long  upon  tlie  cold  ground 
that  his  limbs  ache,  and  his  shoulders  are  full  of  sharp 
pains.  Binl  Song  has  a  warm  blanket.  Will  she  let 
mo  wear  ir,  f" 

The  maiden  unfastened  her  blanket,  and  banded  it 
io  Harold  without  a  moment's  hesitation.  The  latter 
received  it,  and,  pretending  to  throw  it  about  his 
shoulders,  quickly  dashed  it  over  the  head  of  Bird 
Song,  binding  it  tightly  over  her  shoulders  in  the 
shape  of  a  bag 

Startled,  and  perhaps  frightened  by  this  unexpected 
and  hasty  movement,  the  girl  attempted  to  struggle; 
but  in  vain,  for  the  strength  of  Harold  was  very^great. 

Glencl yffe  lifted  Bird  Song  in  his  arms,  and,  without 
much  effort,  bore  her  through  the  bushes,  along  the 
margin  of  the  stream,  proceeding  with  all  due  caution, 
until  he  had  the  heart-felt  satisfaction  ol  knowing  that 
he  was  outside  the  village  of  the  Crows. 

Where  he  was  he  had  no  exact  idea,  but  he  knew 
that  he  must  be  some  distance  from  the  village.  Ke- 
rnoving  the  light  blanket  from  Bird  Song's  head,  the 
youth  received  a  sound  scolding  from  the  maiden's 
tongue. 

"  The  daughter  of  Panther  ClawT  can  go  home  at 
once  and  send  his  braves  upon  my  trail,"  said  Harold, 
"  but  they  will  not  catch  me.  The  pale  face  cannot 
YUM!  the  daughter  of  the  Crows.  He  has  not  hurt 
LKT  j  he  made  her  a  captive  to  secure  himself;  he  now 
s  Is  her  free.  Go  to  the  village  of  your  father.  You 
will  see  me  no  more." 

Bird  Song  stamped  her  foot  angrily.  "The  tongue 
of  the  hunter  lies.  Bird  Song  will  go  to  the  village, 
she  will  bring  her  father's  warriors,  they  will  capture 
the  paleface  again.  He  shall  yet  live  in  the  lodge 
witii  Bird  Song.  She  will  make  him  love  her.  You 
can  never  escape  from  the  mountains.  On  this  side  lies 
the  laud  of  the  Crows,  beyond  the  hills  is  the  home  of 
the  Spirit  of  the  Fountains.  The  Spirit  will  drive  you 
back  and  we  will  catch  you." 


80  OtiD  CALIf 'OIlHrA  JOJS 

Having  delivered  this  speech ,  the  girl  leaped  aw.-  ,j 
and  bounded  down  the  canon  with  the  fleetness  ot  a 
fawn,  turning1,  as  she  passed  out  of  sight,  to  throw  a 
kiss  back  toward  the  hunter. 

Harold  was  standing  under  the  branches  of  a  huge 
hemlock  which  filled  half  the  gorge.  Just  a  little 
higher  up  the  chasm  was  seen  a  female  flying  toward 
him  at  the  top  of  her  speed.  This  woman  was  Grace 
Uardington.  Close  behind  her  came  a  Crow  warrior 
who  was  striving  to  seize  her.  Quick  as  thought  Glen- 
clyfiVs  rifle  was  discharged,  and  the  wTarrior  stumbled 
headlong  to  the  ground.  The  next  instant  the  white 
girl  fell  prostrate  at  the  hunter's  feet. 

Harold  assisted  her  to  rise,  kissed  her  face,  her 
hands,  her  lips  ;  bade  her  speak  to  him,  and  redoubled 
his  efforts  to  quiet  and  calm  her. 

"  For  God's  sake  !  Grace,  dearest,  speak  Are  you 
injured  ?" 

"  No,  I  think  not ;  but,  oh !  so  frightened,77  she 
gasped,  in  hurried  tones. 

"  Are  there  otlier  Indians  ?77 

"  I  saw  but  the  one.77 

"  And  Waldemeyer?  He  found  you  where  I  left 
you.  He  surely  did  not  desert  you  ?  He  is  where  f 

"  There  !77  she  gasped  with  horror.  "  Lying  dead 
-—lying  scalped.77 

Harold  bounded  round  the  angle.  He  saw  an  open 
valley  beyond.  He  saw,  almost  at  his  feet,  a  bloody 
corpse,  from  the  head  of  which  the  gory  scalp  had  been 
torn.  It  was  that  of  Karl  Waldemeyer.  He  turned 
away  and  returned  to  Grace. 

"  We  must  leave  this  spot,77  said  he.  "  Waldemeyer 
is  dead.  Whatever  your  relation  to  him  may  have 
been,  you  will  never  see  him  more.77 

"  Dead  !  Oh,  God  !  can  it  be?  And  yet  I  know 
it  is  so.  Dead  !  and  what  is  that  to  me  ?  He  was  a 
friend,  and  yet  how  he  persecuted  me.  And  the  curse 
hangs  over  me  still.  True,  he  alone  of  all  knew  the 
mvstery.  Dead !  well  why  could  not  I  too  have 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  87 

"  Because  you  must  live  for  me,"  said  Harold, 
solemnly.  u  Curse  or  no  curse,  you  must  be  mine." 

"You  know  not  what  you  say/'  replied  the  maiden. 
Then  gathering  more  spirit,  she  added  :  "  I  will  follow 
yoir.  Lead  me  whither  you  will.  We  were  about  to 
cross  the  valley  when  the  accident  occurred." 

"  Let  us  do  the  same,"  said  Harold,  taking  Grace  by 
the  hand. 

The  two  lovers  crossed  the  valley. 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

WE  left  old  Joe  in  a  critical  situation.  His  bear's- 
fat  torch  had  gone  out ;  the  lurid  glare  of  the  flame  in 
the  monster's  mouth  had  told  him  where  to  fire,  and 

"  Greased   Li^htnin^"   had  belched   forth  its  double 
, 
charge. 

Without  waiting  to  ascertain  the  effect  of  his  shot, 
the  old  hunter,  undaunted,  drew  his  revolver,  and  dis- 
charged two  barrels  in  quick  succession. 

A  series  of  frantic  howls  ensued;  and,  then,  as  they 
grew  fainter  each  minute,  the  trapper  judged  the 
monster  was  retreating  along  the  fatal  passage-way. 

A  spirit  of  infatuation  seized  upon  old  Joe  5  and, 
flushed  with  his  victory,  he  determined  to  penetrate 
still  further,  and  drive  the  monster  to  the  wall.  So 
he  fumbled  about  and  reloaded  his  weapons.  Then  he 
got  hold  of  his  torch,  and  finding  that  it  still  contained 
enough  fat  to  burn  some  time,  he  struck  a  match,  and, 
lighting  it,  started  boldly  along  the  gloomy  passage. 

All  of  a  sudden  he  struck  his  foot  against  something, 
and  tumbled  headlong  to  the  ground,  his  torch  flying 
from  his  hand,  and  going  out  on  the  instant. 

"  Clip  my  top-knot !"  growled  old  Joe,  savagely,  as 
he  scrambled  up  a^ain.  ""  What  in  thunder  was  it  that 
upset  my  ekwfiibrnm,  I'd  lie  to  know?  I'll  -dis- 
kiver  pooty  soon." 

The  torch,    quickly   relighted,  flared   and   splnrted, 


88  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

and  lit  up  the  damp  passage.  Old  Joe  nearly  screamed 
\vitli  amazement  at  what  he  beheld.  What  he  had 
stumbled  over  was  a  man's  body ;  and  tlm  body  was 
bloody  and  mutilated,  and  it  was  the  corpse  of  old 
Tom  Bridler,  the  whaler.  No  wonder  he  was  excited. 

Tom  Bridler's  corpse  had  lost  its  head  ! 

All  at  once  a  peculiar  sound  struck  upon  the  trap- 
per's ear.  He  could  not  tell  what  it  meant,  and  so,  to 
be  extra  prudent,  he  again  stuck  the  torch  in  the  wall, 
and,  hiding  it  in  the  shadow,  leveled  his  rifle. 

The  noise  continued. 

u  Now  comes  the  hitch,"  said  old  Joe,  w;ith  a  grit- 
ting of  his  powerful  teeth.  "  By  mighty  !  lliar  the 
varmint  comes.  Oh,  Moses!  who'd  a-thought  it? 
Golly  !  it's  Rowdy  Bob,  as  I'm  a  sinner !" 

It  was  Rowdy  Bob,  his  face  grimed  with  dirt,  his 
clothes,  never  too  clean,  soiled  with  mud,  his  short 
hair  all  on  end,  and  his  feet  black  as  tar. 

At  every  jump,  the  stubby  hunter  uttered  a  quick, 
sharp  yelp,  like  the  cry  of  a  terrified  dog. 

Old  Joe  rose  to  his  feet  and  uttered  a  stentorian  yell. 

"  Whoop  her  up,  Rowdy  Bob  !  Hold  yer  bosses, 
my  "boy,  an'  come  back  hyar,;;  he  screamed.  u  We'll 
light  it  out  on  this — heigho  !  nip  an?  tuck,  nowr." 

The  change  in  Joe's  speech  was  occasioned  by  the 
appearance  of  the  mysterious  monster,  which  was  evi- 
dently in  pursuit  of  the  flying  hunter. 

California    Joe  dropped    upon    his  knees  into    the 
h:ido\v,  and  taking  a  rapid  air:,  directly  at  the  middle 
of  the  creature's  body,  fired  his  rifle. 

The  noise  of  the  report  was  stunning,  and  when  the 
s  uoke  drifted  away,  the  be;  tt  had  disappeared. 

"  Haw,  haw  •'  whporay  !  how  d'ye  do,  old  Joseph  us  f ' 
yelled  a  hearty  voice  at  Joe's  elbow.  u  Yes,  it's  UK-, 
Rowdy  Bob,  jest  out  o'  tophet,  red  hot  as  a  poker,  an' 
dirty  as  a  pig.  Dang  yer  torch  !  it  Won't  be  needed 
only  aminit  more.  Thai's  plenty  o'  light  right  ahead.7' 

Joe  was  delighted  to  receive  the  aid  of  this  dare- 
devil, rollicking  trapper. 

"Clip  my  top-knot !  I'm  drefful  glad  to  see  ye.  /'ve 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  89 

bin  fittiir*  that  fiend  for  more'n  an  bour,  all  alone. 
Hyar's  my  knife  an'  pistol.  Greased  Lightnin'  I  can't 
give  up  to  any  man.  Now,  then,  on  to  the  scrim- 
mage, my  boy." 

The  torch  was  left  burning  in  the  wall,  and  the  two 
hunters  rushed  boldly  ahead. 

Before  they  had  advanced  three  rods,  the  darkness 
was  dispelled,  and  a  ghastly  flame  lighted  up  the 
large  apartment  into  which  they  plunged. 

A  jet  of  gas,  issuing  from  a  fissure  near  the  floor, 
gave  a  bright,  yellowish  light,  and  emitted  a  pleasant 
warmth. 

In  one  corner  of  tine  apartment,  crouching  down, 
was  the  horrid  monster  which  had  escaped  thorn  thus 
far.  It  laid  in  a  sort,  of  shapeless  mass,  bedabbled 
with  blood,  and  motionless. 

ult's  dead,"  said  Rowdy  Bob.  "  Yer  last  shot  set- 
tled its  persimmons.  D'ye  see  that  tother  critter  f 

A  man  leaped  out  of  a  corner,  and,  with  uplifted 
club,  darted  forward  to  assail  old  Joe. 

A  swift  parry  with  his  rifle  knocked  aside  the 
stranger's  weapon,  and  the  next  instant  'Rowdy  Bob 
had  leaped  upon  hu  back,  and  bore  him  to  the  ground. 

"  W hooray,  Joe  !  my  eyes  !  it's  one  o'  yer  own  men. 
By  hokey  !  how  he  fights.  Rap  him  gently.7' 

Joe  did  not  strike  the  prostrate  man  •  but,  catching 
him  1>}7  the  nape  of  the  neck,  ho  jerked  him  upright^ 
and  held  him  off  at  arm's  length. 

The  man  was  Kingfisher. 

When  Kingfisher,  who  resisted  all  the  while,  had  fit 
last  been  securely  tied,  old  Joe  and  Bob  turned  their 
attention  at  once  to  the  mysterious  occupant  of  the 
corner. 

The  teri%ble  monster  was.  not  so  fearful  a  thing  after 
all.  A  stalwart  man's  form  Jay  dead  before  them. 
Its  face  was  nearly  covered  with  hair.  Its  features 
were  rigid  in  death.  A  horrid,  stony  expression  was  in 
the  *$Ves.  The  man  had  been  a  large  and  powerful 
person.  He  had  taken  the  huge  head  of  a  dead  buffalo, 
and  fixing  it  upon  a  suitable  frame  had  worn  it  thus. 


90  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  ,; 

The  horns  were  those  of  a  buffalo.  His  garb  had 
been  made  of  skins  to  resemble  a  wild  beast.  Upon 
his  teet  were  bound  the  claws  of  the  grizzly  bear,  in 
such  shape,  that  his  footprints  would  resemble  the 
trail  of  that  animal. 

"  Clip  my  topknot !"  said  Joe,  as  all  the  revelations 
were  unfolded.  "It  beats  the  old  scratch,  don't  it, 
Bob  ?  Who  in  thunderation  is  this  man  T ' 

"  P'raps  this  dog  hyar  might  guv  us  some  informa- 
tion," said  Bob,  looking  at  Kingfisher. 

"  I'll  see  you  scalped  first,"  growled  that  worthy, 
sullenly. 

"  We'll  scalp  you  if  you  don't,"  said  old  Joe. 

The  three  men  glared  at  ea*ch  other. 

California  Joe  was  the  next  to  speak. 

"  If  thar's  one  thing  anymore  sartin  than  another," 
said  he,  "  it  is  thet  ye  hev  got  to  make  a  clean  breast 
o*  all  ve  know  consarnin'  this  critter  what  we  hev  shot 
to  death,  or  else  be  put  through  to  kingdom  come 
with  sech  tortures  as  no  redskin  ever  hatched  up  hi 
his  noddle. 

"  We've .  had  the  durnationest,  bloodiest  time  with 
this  varmint  1  ever  had  anywhar,  an'  ye  can  bet  yer 
life  we're  goin',  as  the  doctor's  say,  ter  perrobe  this  thing 
to  the  bottom.  Bufc  we  can't  stop  to  do  it  now.  Thar's 
them  pesky  redskins  outside,  a-lyin'  ready  to  burst  in 
hyar,  must  be  looked  arter  fust.  I  forgot  to  tell  ye.  Bob, 
that  there  is  a  band  o'  Crows  outside  a  tryin'  to  gobble  us 
up." 

Joe  went  on  briefly  to  inform  worthy  Bob  of  what  had 

^occurred  since  that  hunter  had  disappeared  so  suddenly 

,by  the  caving  in  of  the  peak,  where  the  gory  heads  were 

/hung,   mentioning  the  dangers  which  now  Surrounded 

them,  and   winding  up  with  the  suggestion,   that  they 

ought  at  once  to  repair  to  the  outlet,  and  see  how  things 

were  progressing  there. 

To  this  proposition,  Rowdy  acquiesced.  Looking  again 
at  Kingfisher  to  assure  themselves  that  he  was  securely 
bound,  and  could  not  by  any  possibility  escape,  tlie  two 
men  lighted  a  torch,  of  which  there  were  several  in  the 
apartment,  and  began  a  hasty  retreat  from  the  room. 

Those  in  the  cavern  were  delighted  to  see  old  Joe  return, 
for  they  had  given  him  np  for  lost;  but  their 


mentknew  no  bounds  when  they  beheld  Rowdy  Bfj|  with 
him,  and  learned  that  the  Spirit  Demon  had  been  de- 
troyed. 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  81 

It  had  grown  nearly  dark,  whilst  old  Joe  had  been  en- 
gaged in  the  depths  of  the  mountain,  and  the  old  hunter, 
after  taking  a  careful  look  out  of  the  mouth  of  the 
cavern,  said : 

"It's  my  opinyun  that  we'll  be  stirred  up  pooty  lively 
inside  o'  a  few  hours,  by  them  Injuns  down  in  the  sumach. 
They've  been  lyin'  quiet,  an'  getting  ready  to  go  fur  us 
when  night  has  sot  iu,  an'  whar  tliar's  so  many  oil  'em 
it'll  bother  us  to  hold  our  own  all  night  long,  an'  keep  'ere 
out.  So  let  every  feller  load  up  his  weepons,  an'  git  readj 
to  hev  a  tough  skrimmige  o'  it." 

During  Joe's  speecli  Rowdy  Bob  was  busy  digging  his 
dirty  fingers  into  his  bristly  head.  Presently  he  said  : 

**  We've  got  the  bulge  on  'em,  arter  all,  boys.  I  told  old 
Joe  that  I  hadn't  been  a  captive  all  this  time  in  hyar  for 
nothiu'.  Rowdy  Bob  had  ears  an'  eyes,  an'  by  golly,  he 
used  'em  both." 

44  What  d'ye  say,  Bob?"  asked  Joe. 

44 1  say  this,  that  thar's  a  back  door  to  this  ranehe,  an' 
we  ain't  under  no  obligations  to  walk  out  o'  that  hole  into 
the  claws  o'  them  red&kins.  Let's  vamoose,  and  leave  this 
cavern. 

After  a  short  consultation,  it  was  decided  to  follow 
Bob's  advice.  So  the  little  party  withdrew  from  the  outer 
cavern,  and  marched  rapidly  as  the  gloom  would  permit 
along  the  subterranean  passage-  ways.,  until  they  reached 
theapartment  where  they  had  left  Kingfisher.  Here  a  cry 
of  surprise  burst  from  Rowdy  Bob. 

Kingfisher  had  disappeared ! 

The  mysterious  creature  whom  they  had  left  dead  in 
the  corner  had  departed  also.  The  horns,  the  head,  the 
body,  had  all  vanished. 

44  Boys,"  said  Bob,  in  a  low  tone,  44  this  is  a  leetle  the 
skittishesfc  place  I  ever  got  into,  an'  I'm  in  favor  o'  git  tin' 
out  o'  it  quicker'n  scat.  If  ye  will  light  a  couple  o'  them 
torches,  we'll  try  an'  find  that  back  door." 

Rowdy  Bob  led  the  way  along  a  circuitous  passage,  for 
some  distance,  when  all  at  once  the  air  became  stifling 
hot,  aud  there  were  such  fumes  pouring  out  of  crevices  in 
the  rocks,  that  the  adventurers  could  scarcely  catch  their 
breath. 

Suddenly,  a  puff  of  air,  hot  as  the  blast  of  a  furnace, 
'came  up  into  their  faces,  and  a  great  pit  opened  before 
them,  far  down  in  which  were  seen  smouldering  fires. 

Along  the  edge  of  this  yawning  crater,  the  hunters 
crept  for  many  yards,  almost  holding  their  breath  for 
very  aw*  Then  they  came  to  an  avenue  broader  and 
quite  cool.  Pursuing  their  way  a  few  steps  farther,  they 
met  hot  vapors  pouring  up  so  densely,  as  to  forbid  any 
further  advance. 

44  Do  you  know  whar  we  be,  boys?"  asked  Bob,  with  a 
wink  at  Joe. 

44  We're  not  a  mile  from  purgatory,  be  jabers  !"  said 
Rory ;  44  that's  my  honest  belief." 

•4  This  stream  comes  from  the  mysterious  bilin'  spring 
m  tbe  valley,"  said  Bob,  with  a  grin. 


92  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

"  But  how  are  we  to  git  thar ?" 

"The  water  will  go  down  pooty  soon,"  said  Bob,  "an* 
then  we  kin  git  out.  You'll  see  how  it  is — by  mighty  ! 
•w  1 1 a t  n oise  w as  t  h a t  ?" 

They  all  listened  attentively.  Then  a  darkish  object. 
darted  out  of  the  gloom,  and  dashed  through  the  midst  <>£ 
the  hunters.  Old  Joe  made  ft  dive  forward,  caught  the 
object,  and  hurled  it  to  the  ground. 

The  object  was  a  man,  and  the  man  was  Kingfisher.  lie 
struggled  furiously. 

"Curse  you  nil!'"'  he  cried,  hoarsely,  "why  do  you  hound 
a  man  to  death?  What  have  1  (lone  to  make  you  seek  my 
destruction?  Let  me  go;  I  will  not  seek  to  harm  3Tou 
more." 

"No,  we  won't  let  you  go,"  cried  Bob.  "Thar'ssome 
Secrets  ye  must  divulge  first." 

"But  suppose  1  refuse?" 

"Refuse?  Why,  ye  blasted  ninny,  then  we'll  just  heave 
ye  castrut  over  the  edge  o'  that  burniu'  pit.  How  would 
ye  like  seen  a  broilin'  as  that,  my  larkie?" 

"  Will  you  release  me?"  he  said,  eagerly.  "And  will  you 
never  return  hither  again,  and  will  you  not  search  these 
caverns?" 

"  We  will  release  ye  an'  never  come  back  agin,"  said 
Bob,  with  a  laugh  ;  "but,  by  hokey,  we  want  to  s'areb  the 
spot  pooty  well,  for  I'm  o'  the  opinyun  that  thar's  suthin' 
wuth  huiitin'  for  in  hyar,  for  the  Demon  hinted  it  to  me. 
Ye  must  make  a  clean  breast  o'  it,  an'  we'll  share  the 
vallyables  with  ye;  won't  we,  boys?" 

"  What  vallyables?"  asked  Joe. 

"Never  mind."  said  Bob.  "We'll  guv  him  his  share,  if 
he  tells  everything.  If  he  don't,  then  we'll  hoist  the  ras- 
cal into. the  crater,  an'  hunt  tip  the  vallyables  an'  keep  'em 
all  ourselves." 

"I'll  tell  all,"  groaned  Kingfisher,  dismally. 

"Spin  her  out,  then,"  said  Joe. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

AFTEB  a  few  minutes' silence,  during  which  beseemed 
to  be  collecting  his  thoughts,  Kingfisher  began  his  story 
in  these  words: 

"Many  years  ago,  a  party  of  gold  hunters  were  busy 
dio-ging'gold  in  the  mountains,  many  miles  to  the  west  ot 
this  spot.  They  were  over  thirty  in  number  and  had 
come  up  from  the  country  far  to  the  south,  under  the 
lead  of  a  man  whose  name  was  Brette  Galbreite.  He  was 
n  Frenchman  by  birth,  a  man  who  had  been  a  'rover  a 
his  lifetime.  His  party  was  composed  of  Mexicans, 
Americans,  and  half-breeds  of  the  lower  border. 

"Amonir  the  party  was  a  beautiful  woman.  She  was 
the  wife  of  the  leader  of  the  band,  and  was  so  courageous, 
that  she  always  went  with  her  husband,  no  matter  bow 


D  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  93 

hnzardous  the  journey.  The  man  was  rough,  and,  afc 
times,  brutal  toothers;  but  his  love  for  this  woman  was 
so  deep  and  fervent,  that  he  ever  treated  her  as  he  would 
have  treated  an  angel, 

"There  was  at>oy  with  the  party — a  lad  at  that  time  ten 
years  of  age.  Tiie  boy's  name  was  Mantze.  Now  this 
man,  Brette  Galbrette,  was  my  father;  the  woman  was 
my  mother;  the  lad  of  ten  years  was  myself 

"  Well,  our  party  was  successful.  We  dug  so  much  gold 
that  we  could  scarcely  carry  it  with  us.  We  had  a  trail*, 
of  five  pack  mules,  and  they  were  laden  with  gold  dust. 
When  we  counted  over  our  gains,  we  determined  to  return 
to  civilization,  and,  breaking  up  our  camp,  the  party 
started  on  its  route. 

"But  although  we  had  been  unmolested  during  our 
tarry  in  the  mountains,  we  had  not  been  unnoticed.  In- 
deed, the  ehief  of  the  Gros  Vent  res,  a  crafty  fellow,  stylrd. 
Walk-in-the-wind,  had  had  his  spies  watching  us  all*  the 
time. 

"By  day  they  hovered  about  our  trail,  and  at  night 
they  shot  our  sentries  and  stampeded  our  horses.  Night 
after  night  this  was  done,  until  one  morning  at  daybreak 
our  camp  was  attacked  in  force.  We  had  a  desperate 
combat;  but  our  people  drove  the  redskins  off,  after 
losing  one  half  our  number. 

"  A  band  of  Crows  met  the  Gros  Ventres  the  same  day, 
and  destroyed  them.  So  we  were  relieved  of  the  Gros 
Ventres.  But  the  Crows  began  to  follow  our  trail,  and 
harass  us.  One  night  they  attacked  us  at  the  mouth  of 
Broken  Bluff  Valley,  and  compelled  us  to  take  refuge  in 
the  valley. 

'•  Here  we  remained  a  week,  constantly  fighting  for  our 
lives,  and  losing  men  every  day.  At  last,  but  six  men  re- 
mained, and  we  retreated  to  the  boiling  spring  at  the  head 
of  the  valley.  Here  we  discovered  that  the  spring  was  an 
intermittent  one;  that  in  the  daytime  it  was  full  of  boil- 
ing water,  and  that  during  the  night  hours  it  was  nearly 
dry,  and  the  water  was  cold. 

"  We  also  discovered  that  when  thespung  was  nearly 
dry,  an  opening  was  seen  directly  underneath  the  spot 
where  is  the  figure  of  the  Indian  chief  driving  the  bear. 
This  opening  was  so  large  that  a  man  might  enter  stand- 
ing erect.  I  need  not  say  that  we  rejoicexl  at  this  disco v- 
ery.  We  at  once  entered  and  found  a  shelter. 

"  The  gold  dust,  which  the  savages  had  not  taken  as  yet, 
was  hastily  carried  therein  in  tUe sheepskin  sacks,  wherein 
we  carried  it,  and  then  we  all  returned  to  bring  in  what 
provisions  we  had  left.  But  the  Crows  had  chased  us 
hard,  and  a  fierce  attack  was  made.  Outnumbered  we 
turned  to  fly,  but  found  ourselves  cut  off. 

"  My  father  was  a  powerful  man,  and  being  also  a  cour- 
ageous fellow,  he  determined  to  save  my  mother  and  rny- 
:.elf.  He  clubbed  his  rifle  and  fought  his  way  to  the  edge 
of  the  spring.  Here  my  mother  fell,  pierced  with  arrow's, 
and  my  father,  catching  me  in  his  arms,  made  good  his 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

into  this  asylum.  In  a  short  time  the  spring  boiled 
Lip  full  of  water,  and  the  savages,  struck  with  terror, 
turned  and  fled. 

«»  My  father  had  a  dream  that  night,  in  which  ray  moth- 
er appeared  to  him.  She  bade  him  remain  in  the  vicinity, 
saying  that  she  had  been  told  by  the  eptfits,  that  when- 
ever he  could  get  away  and  carry  all  the  gold  with  him. 
she  would  be  restored  to  life  and  sent  to  him. 

"Brette  Galbrette  derived  great  comfort  from  this 
visit  of  my  mother,  and  he  declared  to  me  that  he  should 
do|his  part  of  the  duty,  to  the  uttemost.  How  we  were 
toi  get  the  gold  away  was  a  great  problem  ;  but,  we  have 
done  so  m  eh  ing  toward  it. 

"  This  spot  proved  to  be  a  secure  haven  for  us.  It  is  a 
volcanic  range,  and  the  savages  of  the  neighborhood  stand 
in  avye  of  it.  Brette  Gilbrette  added  to  this  terror  by 
playing  the  part  of  the  Demon  of  the  valley.  At  different 
times  we  knve  gone  thence  transporting  much  gold  with 
us  to  points  nearer  civilization,  of  course  considerable  gold 
remains,  which  you  are  welcome  to  since  1  can't  prevent 
your  taking  it.  You  will  find  it  between  here  and  the 
spring* 

14  All  the  savages  near  by  know  of  the  Demon,  and  hence 
this  beautiful  valley  is  not  frequented  by  them.  Brette 
Galbrette  was  this  demon.  You  have  plain  him  and  the 
superstition  will  end  here.  Alas!  you  have  brought  upon 
me  an  irreparable  injury." 

There  was  quite  a  pause,  then  old  Joe  said  : 

"Iknpw'd  that  thar  was  some  nateral  explanification 
o'  all  this  humbuggery,  but  it  nevertheless  bothered  my 
wits  consid'able.  Ye  see,  boys,  that  the  explanifyiii' 
which  Harold  gave  us  at  the  begin n in'  was  pooty  nigh 
the  truth.  The  biliri'  o'  the  spring  is  owin*  to  something 
about  this  hyar  volcano,  The  burnin'  o'  the  gas  when 
Hans  dropped  his  pipe,  is  accounted  for  easy  enough,  for 
we  see  that  the  hull  inside  o'  this  mountain  is  chucked  full 
o'  seams  a  pourin'  out  their  gas.  All  the  growlin'  an' 
grumblin'  comes  from  the  fittin'  what's  goin'  on  down  in 
the  'arth  beneath.  But  why  did  this  Demon  have  a  grudge 
against  us?" 

44 Because,"  said  Kingfisher,  "he  was  afraid  lest  you 
would  discover  this  cavern  and  rob  him  of  his  treasures, 
At  your  arrival  he  was  much  alarmed.  He  determined  to 
scare  you  away  by  awakening  supernatural  terrors.  Ho 
destroyed  your  comrades  by  cuttin'  off  their  heads  at  a 
single  stroke  of  an  enormous  Mexican  'machete.'  Being 
crafty  and  skillful,  he  surprised  them  all  and  caught  them 
unawares." 

41  What  did  he  put  thar  heads  on  the  peak  for?'  >  asked 
Dyce  Richards. 

*4He  knew  that  you  would  come  hither,  and  hoped  thus 
to  frighten  you  oif.  Where  Rowdy  Bob  fell  through  \\iis 
a  thin  crust  of  lava.  The  cause  of  Hans'  sudden  flight  into 
the  air  was  thus:  There  was  an  opening  in  the  rock, 
through  which  the  De^on  ascended  to  the  peak.  He 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  05 

kept  it  covered  with  a  tightly  stretched  robe.  The  De- 
mon was  under  it  when  Hans  stepped  uporfit,  and  hoist- 
ed it  up  so  violently,  that  the  Dutchman  was  sent  flying 
in  the  air." 

"Thar's  one  thing  more,"  said  Joe.  "How  do  ye  ao 
count  for  the  mysterious  voice  in  the  air  that  warned  us? 
That  got  me  closer  than  anything  else." 

44  That  is  the  easiest  of  all!"  said  Kingfisher.  "Biette 
Galbrette  and  1  are  both  ventriloquists.  You  understand 
it  now." 

"Lord-a-mighty!"  roared  Dyce.  "What  a  jmssel  o' 
fools  we  was.  We  mought  hev  knowed  it  was  jest  sech 
torn-foolery." 

44  What  a  set  o'  durnation  fools  we  hunters  was,  to  come 
hyar  him  tin'  gold  at  all!"  growled  old  Joe.  "  I'll  not  be 
ketched  up  so  agin.  I'll  stick  to  b'ars  an'  beavers  in  the 
nat'ral  way,  with  Injuns  thrown  in  for  sass.  But  we 
want  one  more  bit  o'  knowledge  out  o'  yer.  Ye  was  cap- 
tivated by  the  Injuns,  same  time  Waldemeyer  an'  the  gal 
was.  How  did  ye  git  away,  an'  whar  be  the  rest?" 

Kingfisher  replied  promptly. 

44 1  made  my  escape  by  night.  The  others  are  safe  in 
Panther  Claw's  village." 

44  Wai,  boys,"  said  Dyce,  "  the  steam  don't  come  up  any 
more.  We  can  proceed  into  the  valley." 

The  little  party  uttered  an  exclamation  of  joy,  and  Dyce 
led  the  way  onward,  waving  his  torch  over  his  head 
bravely. 

CHAPTER  XX. 

THE  hunters  discovered  the  treasure  spoken  of  by  King- 
fisher without  any  difficulty.  It  was  contained  in  a  dozen 
small  sacks  of  buffalo  and  big-horn  skin.  There  was 
enough  of  it,  however,  to  make  them  dance  for  joy.  With- 
out any  ado,  the  sturdy  fellows  seized  upon  the  treasure 
trove,  and  continued  their  journey. 

The  camp  was  in  due  time  readied,  and  the  hunters 
were  most  cordially  received.  The  wonderful  adventures 
of  the  little  party  being  most  greedily  devoured  by  those 
who  had  renamed  behind,  there  was  no  sleep  in  cam£ 
until  the  short  hours  jf  morning. 

Old  Joe,  however,  was  restless  and  uneasy.  The  cause 
of  his  disquietude  was,  that  Harold  Glenclyffe  was  still,  as 
he  believed,  n  captive  in  the  hands  of  the  Crows.  The 
hunter  was  chagrined  at  the  utter  failure  of  the  attempt 
to  rescue  the  young  laviy;  but  he  felt  even  worse  over 
Harold's  fate. 

Joe,  however,  had  made  up  his  mind  to  ask  Bob  to  go 
with  him,  and  make  an  effort  to  relieve  the  captives. 

"  It'll  be  adesprit  affair,"  said  Joe.  "Will  ye  go  with  me?" 

"Wai,  Joe,"  answered  Rowdy  Bob,  "hyar's  my  hand. 
When  shall  wo  start?" 

"To  once;  every  minit's  worth  pure  gold,  and  who 
knows  but " 

A  confused  noise  of  many  voices  attracted  the  jiunter's 
attention,  so  that  he  paused  in  his  speech. 


96  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOS 

"Durn'em!  the  hoys  are  yellin'  like  macf,"  cried  Bob. 
*  Wiin  t  can  it  mean  ? " 

The  two  hunters;  were  not  long  in  donbt.  Two  persons 
'had  arrived  at  the  edge  of  the  camp,  and  they  were  Har- 
old Glenclyffe  and  Grace  Cardiugton.  It  I?* 'needless  to 
say  that  old  Joe  joined  the  salute  of  welcome,  and  roared 
louder  than  any  two  others. 

Harold's  story  was  quickly  narrated.  He  had,  most  for- 
tunately, found  a  way  through  the  mountains,' and,  by 
dint  of  perseverance,  had  brought  himself  and  Grace 
through  in  safety. 

When  he  mentioned  Waldemeyer's  dreadful  death,  the 
worthy  Zerub  ibel  Potts  evinced  tiie  most  intense  interest, 
eagerly  devouring  every  word. 

He  then  walked  off  by  himself,  and  seemed  inconsolable 
about  something. 

That  very  afternoon,  the  business  of  gold-washing  was 
resumed,  jiiid  in  a  brief  time  everything  relapsed  into  a 
state  of  clock-like  precision,  and  every  one  seemed  eor- 
t en ted. 

Harold  was  very  devoted  in  looking  after  the  welfare 
of  Grace  Cardington. 

One  day  they  were  sitting  in  a  quiet  spot  in  the  shade 
of  a  cluster  of  bushes,  wheii  Ilarold,  taking  Grace  by  the 
band,  said : 

**  Grace,  I  insist  upon  your  marrying  me.  What  care  I 
for  any  curse?  Oh,  no  curse  could  be  half  so  heavy  as  to 
be  banished  from  you.  Tell  me,  I  beg,  1  entreat,  \\hat 
this  fearful  mystery  is.  1  will  shoulder  every  burden.  1 
will  press  you  to  my  heart.  I  will  defend  you  with  my 
life.  Ol),  Grace,  dearest,  will  you  put  me  off  forever?'' 

During  this  speech  the  maiden  had  grown  much  excited. 

'•  Harold  Glenclyffe,"  she  said,  solemnly,  "listen  tome. 
I  feel  that  you  will  not  be  put  off  longer.  You  shall  hear 
my  secret.  You  shall  know  all.  Then  if  you  insist  upon 
it,  /  will  marry  you.'" 

"  Proceed,  Grace.  Nothing  that  you  can  say  will  dis- 
turb my  love  for  you." 

"Several  years  ago  you  saw  me  in  Manchester.  I  was 
Jinppy  then,  for  I  was  innocent  and  independent.  I 
earned  and  ate  my  own  bread.  An  orphan,  i(  is  true,  but 
supporting  myself.  My  mother,  whose  ma  den  name  wjis 
Grace  Mar  weigh,  had  an  only  brother,  a  bachelor,  who 
was  very  wealthy.  His  name  was  Roger  Marweigh.  lie 
lived  in  a  beautiful  home,  on  the  bank  of  the  Hudson,  a 
few  miles  above  the  great  metropolis. 

"Whilst  my  parents  lived,  he  cared  naught  for  ns. 
When  they  died,  he  cared  nothing  for  me.  He  had  never 
seen  me.  "  One  day  a  man  came  to  Manchester,  and  told 
me  he  had  a  letter  for  me  from  my  uncle.  This  man  was 
Knrl  Waldemeyer.  The  letter  offered  me  a  home,  an  edu- 
cation, a  fine  position  in  society,  at  my  uncle's.  I  accepted 
the  proposition,  and  left  Manchester  secretly  with  Walde- 
m  yep,  for  my  uncle  desired  that  my  early  life  should  not 
be  known. 

"Everything- at  Fair  Haven,  my  uncle's  place,  was  de- 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  97 

Jightful.  My  uncle  received  me  cordially.  He  was  not 
quite  forty,  and  I  was  seventeen.  I  soon  made  a  startling 
discovery.  My  uncle  loved  me,  and  asked  me  to  be  his 
wife.  I  was  dumbfounded;  hut,  not  loving  him,  refused. 

"During  this  time,  Karl  Waldemeyer,  who  was'a  friend 
of  my  uncle,  and  a  physician  of  the  village,  also  made  love 
to  me;  but  his  advances  were  rejected.  He  took  my  ;ni- 
Fver  very  much  to  heart,  and  was  angry  with  me.  He 
was  very  intimate  with  my  uncle,  over  whom  he  had 
hirge  influence. 

"One  day  Uncle  Marweigh  was  taken  ill  with  a  fever; 
! ie  lingered  awhile,  then  died  suddenly.  He  was  buried; 
his  will  was  opened,  and  I  was  sole  heir  to  the  estate  and 
fortune  of  my  relative. 

"A  few  days  after  this  Karl  ennv*  to  see  me;  lie  was  very 
loving,  but  I  was  reserved.  He  gre.v  importunate,  and  I 
resented  his  familiarity.  He  UK n  threatened  me  with  a 
fearful  threat. 

"I  bade  him  leave  the  house,  which  he  did,  in  a  tower- 
ing passion. 

44  The  next  day  I  was  arrested  by  the  officers  of  the  law 
on  the  charge  or  having  murdered  my  uncle.  T  was  stu- 
pefied. I  scarcely  knew  what  followed.  There  was  a 
trial;  my  uncle's  body  had  been  disinterred.  An  exam- 
ination had  been  had — and  arsenic  was  found  in  the  stom- 
ach. 

"Karl  Waldemeyer  swore  that  I  had  procured  arsenic 
from  him,  a  few  days  before  my  uncle's  death.  He  had 
not  suspected,  he  said,  for  what  purpose.  A  house  ser- 
vant, who  had  overheard  sharp  words  between  my  uncle 
and  me  at  the  time  he  proposed  marriage,  was  also  on  the 
witness-stand, 

"The  jury  brought  in  a  verdict  of  guilty.  The  judge 
sentenced  me  to  death.  The  prison  received  me.  llow 
the  time  passed  I  know  not.  One  day  Waldemeyer  visited 
me.  He  said  he  could  get  me  out  of  prison,  if  I  wanted  to 
escape.  I  could  not  endure  the  thought  of  being  hung. 
1  accepted  his  offer.  He  bribed  some  of  tlie  jailers,  and  I 
was  free.  But  the  fear  of  capture  made  rne  frantic.  Wal- 
demeyer induced  me  to  come  west  under  an  assumed  name, 
as  his' niece.  He  was  kind,  attentive,  very  respectful. 

"We  traveled  in  various  quarters,  but  pretty  soon  I 
found  that  his  interest  in  me  was  purely  selfish.  Ho  still 
wished  to  marry  me,  and  was  always  urging  me  to  it,  un- 
der threat  of  surrendering  me  to  the  law.  I  refused,  and 
so  he  persevered,  until  my  life  for  months  had  been  a  per- 
i'eet  horror. 

"Be  is  dead.  But  what  ami?  A  woman  convicted  of 
murder.  A  fugitive  from  justice.  The  gallows  are  wait- 
ing for  Grace  Cardiugton.  If  you  many  me,  you  may  at 
any  moment  behold  me  led  to  public  execution. 

"Harold  Glenclyffe,  in  view  of  all  this,  can  you,  dare 
you  ask  me  to  marry  you  ?  Oh,  God  !  what  a  fate  is  mine." 

The  wretched  woniau  covered  her  face  in  her  hands, 
and  hot  burning  tears  gushed  from  her  eyes. 


98  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

Harold  leaped  to  his  feet. 

"  Grace  Cardington,"  said  he,  "  nnswer  me  one  thing,  as 
before  Heaven.  You  are  innocent?" 

"Innocent,"  she  said.     "So  help  me,  my  Maker1!" 

t6The  world  may  not  believe  it,"  said  Harold,  "  but  I 
oarenot  for  that. "  I  love  you.  I  will  hold  you  to  your 
pledge.  Grace  Car  ding  toil,  you  must  be  my  bride,  even 
though  I  lose  you  in  the  awful  manner  indicated.  In  th<> 
fullness  of  my  love,  I  say  let  all  <  lie  responsibility  hem  ne, 

"Then,  Harold,  I  am  yours,  for  better  or  for  worse,      V 
plied   the  maiden,  firmly,     "Such    unalterable  lov; 
serves  no  refusal." 

The  two  lovers  were  about  to  embrace  in  the  ardor  ol 
their  feelings,  when  a  cheery  voice  interrupted  them. 

"She's  innocent!  I'll  swar  to  that  afore  any  court  or 
jury  in  York  Slate  or  elsewhere,  by  hokey!" 

Harold  Glendyffe  whirled  around,  and  beheld  Zeruba- 
bel  Potts  standing  blinking  at  them  with  his  one  eye. 

"Zounds,  man!"  said  lie,  "  have  you  no  more  sense  than 
to  spy  upon  us  thus?" 

"I  ain't  spying.  I'm  only  embracing  an  opportunity, 
just  as  you  were  ab'mt  to  embrace  the  loveliest  and  most 
innocent  girl  in  the  universal  creation.  I  gay  she  inno- 
cent of  the  murder  of  her  nude." 

"  But  who  are  you?  What  do  you  know  of  this  affair, 
you  deaf  and  blind  old  adder?" 

"Wai!"  replied  Potts.  "I  hain't  so  very  deaf  all  the 
while  you  see,  and  there's  many  a  man  who  hasn't  as 
many  eyes  as  I  have." 

With  that  Potts  tore  off  the  red  kerchief  which  had 
bound  up  his  eye,  and  a  visible  orb  was  sparkling  there, 
just  as  it  should  do.  At  the  same  time  his  demoralized 
•* stove  pipe"  was  tossed  to  the  ground,  and  his  gray 
hairs,  in  the  shape  of  a  wig,  quickly  followed  his  hat.  The 
"kinks"  too,  disappeared,  and  Potts  stood  erect  as  a 
youthful  sapling.  What  a  wonderful  metamorphosis!  It 
was  like  the  caterpillar  changing  into  the  butterfly.  Potls, 
the  decrepid  old  man,  no  longer  existed;  but  in  his  stead, 
stood  a  bright  eyed,  smoothed  faced,  intellignt  man  oi 
thirty,  with  a  cheerful  smile  upon  his  countenanrice. 

Grace  Cardingtou  exclaimed  in  a  tone  of  deepest  sur- 
prise and  agitation. 

"Caryl  Harver,  is  it  you?" 

"Aye,  Miss  Card  ing  ton,  it  is  I,  the  student  of  Karl  Wai- 
demeyer,  the  German  doctor,"  replied  he  that  was  Potts, 
with  a  wave  of  his  hand.  "  You  are  astonished  to  see  me 
here,  no  doubt." 

"Alas!  how  the  minions  of  the  law  follow  me,"  said 
Grace  with  an  expression  of  despair.  "  You  come  to  up- 
braid me  and  expose  me  to  apprehension  and  arrest." 

"No,  Miss  Cardington.  I  come  to  rescue  your  name 
from  all  taint  of  crime.  I  am  ready  to  affirm  your  inno- 
cence of  the  murder  of  your  uncle.  I  know  what  1  de- 
clare. This  German  doctor  was  a  knave — a  villain.  Uu- 


OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE.  99 

der  the  semblance  of  honesty  and  integrity,  he  carried  the 
heart  of  a  scoundrel. 

44  He  it  v  as  who  poisoned  your  uncle  in  hopes  of  driv 
inp:  yoli  to  marry  him,  and  fly  with  him  to  foreign  lands. 
I  saw  this  wretch  administer  the  poison.  I  charged  it 
upon  him,  and  forsooth  he  stabbed  me,  ns  he  thought,  to 
rtaath,  lest  I  should  tell  on  him.  But  I  recovered,  and 
have  devoted  my  life  to  the  exposure  of  this  villainy. 
Karl  Walderneyer  is  dead.  I  only  regret  that  he  had  not 
died  upon  the  gallows.  I  am  ready  to  accompany  you  to 
your  old  home  and  testify  to  your  innocence  before  all 
men." 

****** 

No  longer  interrupted  in  their  work  by  the  Demon  of 
the  Valley,  the  gold-seekers  gathered  the"  yellow  dusi  in 
vast  quantities,  so  that  within  a  fortnight  a  council  was 
held  to  consider  the  propriety  of  returning  to  civilization. 
Old  Joe  advised  a  speedy  return.  They  had  acquired 
handsome  fortunes  every  man  of  them ;  their  number  had 
been  materially  lessened,  and  their  presence  had  become 
known  to  the  Crows,  who  now  threatened  to  give  them 
trouble.  Kingfisher  had  joined  the  savages  in  a  crusade 
against  the  whites,  and,  altogether,  the  propriety  of  re- 
maining longer  was  exceedingly  doubtful. 

Upon  taking  a  vote,  it  was  found  that  nearly  all  were 
in  favor  of  abandoning  the  diggings;  and  so,  with  joyous 
hearts,  the  party  of  gold-seekers  turned  their  faces  away 
from  Broken  Bluff  Valley,  en  route  for  the  fort. 

At  tiie  fort  Harold  found  that  a  detachment  of  cavalry 
was  preparing  to  go  to  one  of  the  forts  on  the  Upper  Mis- 
souri. He  at  once  embraced  the  opportunity  of  accom- 
panying them,  hoping  to  get  transportation  down  the 
river  to  Fort  Leaven  worth.  Grace  Cardington  and  Caryl 
Harver,  we  need  not  say,  went  with  the  detachment,  also, 
the  heart  of  the  former  overflowing  with  hope. 

We  need  not  pause  to  narrate  the  incidents  of  the  trip 
to  the  Empire  State.  In  due  time,  Harold  Glenclyffe, 
Grace  Cardington,  and  Cat^l  Harver  stood  in  the  august 
presence  of  the  Governor.  They  had  procured  a  private 
interview  with  his  Excellency,  who  seemed  to  sympathize 
deeply  with  the  lovely  maiden,  against  whom  such  a  fear- 
ful wrong  had  been  committed. 

The  Governor  listened  patiently  to  the  details  of  the 
ease,  and  promised  to  continue  the  investigation  without 
delay.  Meantime,  Grace  remained  in  strict  concealment, 
under  lock  and  key  and  guard,  as  the  Governor  deemed  it- 
right  that  it  should  be  so,  until  the  verdict  should  be 
reached, 

One  day  the  door  of  her  prison-chamber  was  opened, 
and  Harold  Glenclyffe  entered  with  a  buoyant  step  and  a 
radiant  countenance. 


tulft>IIV    i^U  II  I  I  1,'^i.Kl  IIV^»  .  -  ,  .     . 

44  Virtue  triumphs  at  last!"  he  cried,  folding  her  in  his 

•ms,  proudly.     "Here,  my  dear,  is  the  Governors  par- 

..onf  full  and  complete.    Your  own  pure  name  is  restored 

to  you,    and   you  are  heir  to  your  uncles  estate.     The 

neighbors  at  Fair  Haven  are  e aerer  to  welcome  you  back. 


36434-04- 


100  OLD  CALIFORNIA  JOE. 

*» 

They  will  greet  you  with  a  perfect  ovation.    Will  you  go 
QH     as  Grace  Cardiniiton,  or  as  Mrs.  G-lenclyffe?" 

'•As  your  wife,"  said  (  he  maiden,  archly. 
M72     And  to  Fair  Haven  they  went  man  and"  wife. 

The  parting  at  the  fort  between  California  Joe  arid  Har- 
old was  almost  painful. 

"Good-bye,  nry  boy,  Harold.  Don't  forgit  old  Califor- 
ny.  He'll  often  think  o'  j^e,"  said  Joe,  iieai'ly  crushing  the 
youth's  hand  at  parting.  "Take  good  cere  o'  Giactvan' 
]•(  member  one  tiling,"  he  added,  in  a  whispei*,  "an"  that 
is.  to  name  the  fust  boy  after  old  Joe." 

For  a  week  after  Harold  left,  the  sturdy  old  trapper 
had  the  bines.  Buthe  got  over  them  presently,  and  ina<:." 
up  a  trapping  party  to  go  down  toward  the  Salt  La!-:^ 
country.  In  this  company  was  Dyce  Richards,  Haiis 
KalhfiVisch,  and  Rowdy  Bob,  who  left  their  gold  dust  in 
charge  of  the  commander  of  the  fort  until  their  return. 

THE  END. 


TO  BE  ISSUED  DECEMBER  19. 
Jlnnro's  Ten  Cent  Hovel,  25r 
THE  WILD  MAN  OF  THE  PLAIK&. 

By  SAN«>Y  «.  V. 


NOW  IS  THE  TIME  TO  SUBSCRIBE  FOR  THE 
J>Tew  Illustrated  Weekly  i'or 

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jfipod  continued  stories,  and  good  short  stories.  Poetry,  biog- 
raphy, science,  amusements  for  the  young,  and  humor,  will 
form  important  features,  and  be  fully  illustrated. 

Terms  for  1874 : 

One  copy,  one  year. ,$  3.00 

Two  copies,  one  year 5.00 

Nine  copies,  one  '/ear ,  .  .    20.00 

One  copy   each  of  the  NEW    YORK  FIRESIDE  COM- 
PANION and  THE  GIRLS  AND   HOYS  OF  AMERICA,  . 
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GEORGE  M  UNRO,'  PUBLISH  KB, 

84   Beekman  Street,  New  York. 


JtfllJNRO'S 


CEIVT  XVOY1HLS. 


1  The^antin 

S4  T.onp  BoV                                         | 

a67WapawVMwfr 

2  The  .  -upper's  lie  treat 

85  C.x.no)  Hu'lt 

1681  \e  \VhiteArrmr 

4  Fugitive*  «     '-sMouaiuiiu 
5'lueTrackc.Fiie 

87Spy'rf:»iri)elawar*e  [Men 
SS'MWdKit.'-tbfftcout 

69  \V  hiloil.ired  liuater 
70  Y,  How  Jake 
71  Tiie  \V)7«r.l  Trapper 

6  The  Man  Eaters 

89  II-mk  \V  iggiii»,  ttq. 

72  \V  ar  T  >;,;!,.  i  tin-  ^miaolet 

7  Charlotte  tent]  If 

73  The  Kivrr-  \Vwlf 

Sine  Death  Fate 

9  1  OldTrBinjtr'sPrV.e 

74  K.-dHi.nd 

y  Thai  ndian  Slaver 

92  Marks  niiiii.tLelluuter 

75  IJUck  Hume 

10  The  Turd,  (  . 
11  ThelluMttr1!  ', 

<J8  OiSizl  vlt.ke 
94  Spotted  1      , 

76  The  Lfaph.s  Panther 
77  TheSiUci  •  Seek«ra 

^Tii-Oce.nBm.i  J- 
13  The  Tory   Ou 

9  5  The  KhxHU  Fix>f  print 
t>6  Old  U  uSr.il,,  •  Ti  ail  T 

78  Z  pTiimVle 

73  <J,.wn  Ktple 

14  /  rkeSttruum 
leTueC^ptm  \ 

98  Panther  J*ck  '^'"jMUVr 

80  Old  N  ul  MI  Piper 
81  The  \    ;  IkiitJ;  It.-s  r 

17  L:jn»Leggt«U«e 
1  8  WillSeo  u  1  o  1  1  l;eMountata» 

101  Gam<rotk  .1'theS.utoe 

84  Ch.-waclB                    lc»e« 

19  Thf  For* 

102  Old  /eke 

85  The  Huith  Ranger 

103  Dog  Fare 

86  TheTrc-M.i.  Cave 

21  KtttK-tnak  «.b«k 

104  Sharp  Snout 

2-.MJ  ckrtty  T  <-w  <]>.  Ruf-r 

105  'i'u«.c..ltiosa  Sam 

S8  Gu  -ill  a  /.ett- 

23Th;lmp»  oil! 

!U€  SI;,uJn,i 

aO  UieUe,!  !u  Death  Shot 

2;^  .'o-,  :  he'  •  Saipiut" 

lor  Kcd  K<i' 
1U8  Llack  Sdnipsou 
J09  Lgli-Ikc 

90  l!Uck  Raljh 
91  Rocky  Mountain  Hunter 
92  Club-  Foot;  or.  Spy  of  the 

j   -,.li,,,,krrH,M 

110  Sijuatty  Dick 

03  Kube,  the  Sniper  [Colony 

111  Hdrd.kull.the  Avm&t 

94  Speclreol  the  Prairie 

',':)  .v  |jini  •,-vnl  )!olt          {breed, 

33  S,..,k>  s 
:-;l  Hell  n:;  i 

1)2  Tu.kev  Foot 
'       11»  Hawk  Eye,  toe  punter 
114  Madman  of  tl 

96  TheHiilt-Brefd 
07  TbeKingolthePlatoi 

Sv;  H  -,i>,  Y  li 

115  Dave  Bunker 

98  The  Dhkotuh  Chief 

tl8  raizing  Anuw 

199  Thuntl..r  Spirit 

i!7  Hickory  Jack 

2UO  The  Soul  he  ir,  Crow 

3;-  fu-  F.»ul  MI    • 

IT>   »\v  in  Trapper* 

2'Jl  The  Spirit  Hunter 

^.tXtkt 

>,      ^1dinSTwln 

202  P  1  g  Phtlps             •*"*—  -_ 

1  rrNirk 

lii    Bl.wdv  \\olf 

W  Long  Headed  Mik« 

£'.-  '/I.-  f. 
40  Prairi.-  JaKe* 

•22  ThundMi-Chmd 
23  Hiirolilotthc  iriN 

205  The  M  oimum  Giant 
206  Oiil  Bono 

handBeanty 

124  TexHs.'  *       IMayneReld 
J25  Creole  Forger  :  by  Captain 

207  R  •<!  l-i^l:  ton  the  Cliff 

.;.{  ru  :  (it-Ait  toith  •  NV.WS 

12«  Rrd  .St»r«,i  the  Scminuloa 

209  G,  -ass  boppi-r  Jim 

44  Th  •'. 

127  l{>  i 

21  OCrnwliRg  Spider 

211  The  T:  app.ro!  the  HUto 

.;,;  DM  j.riir.iiii. 

t«  ScoutoflheficbU 

212ThelnviMble'Bc«u» 

47  Miti  •: 

213S'haipKifle 

4«  Wn.te-Hiaded  Hunler 

131  Mad  B«4>y 

13*  India.  SuHtarrrt 

2i5  The  Ranger 

60  'i'li":  Scout  «l  l.4.i 

133  P..I  •]•;.,.  luJa-n 

216  S.ilSuwUnea 

5i  -Siive.-h;el<,the  ' 

154  \\hi 

2i7  TheHnunied  Tra!l 

52  ttl-ck  Bill,  tl.eT.    pper 

|.{5  \VralM.llhcSwamj; 

X  18  The  MoniHiik  <  hkf  [Hirer 

64  ':/i-n  Dirk  ,t)..'  - 

IS?  liun'..-r"  Srrref 

2.'0  The  G  ,.:n  '1  rapper  of  the 

of.  [Mii.n  y  u.-m'.  • 

I'M   li   >k<    >  J;.(k            |  l!r,«o« 

Ef.  01.1  Sc  • 

I7t  Little  F?,!."-!1'  Vpj^r 

.'2  The  XVh'c-  Panther 

67  ll.gSndki-.th    .' 

140TJie\Vii 
141  K.).iugl>i(l.  Hunter 

.•J  r,igSc.l,^r 

£j  S  ,!».iy    Hi.nc."'lL      r'',arp- 

l«r.4h  i'.igN-..i 

^      [e  oi'.i'j  im'iTy^r 

CU  0-p.sy  Jack 

143  Hunter  olLlrrk  FlilU 

W         i«TJiuiuIerK«-l.o 

Cl  Tlw&CHrltf  ttt 

144  '•:>.:• 

.'7  I.,  t  -ChamrCill 

C>  '•'  I*,  Sco'j  l  w,  T  |.j   i.^n  iri 

145  1  -i.n  1 

>8  Volla-w  Sr.lp 

64  The  Hride"ol\VoH01-B 

147  TheTrappt-t'yCa>« 

JO  KitC.xr.von.'lhe  Scout 

1  ntk,ll.r  Tapper 

148  Paintc-dl'i.ltlu^ 

Cf  S,  HI,  of  tin  U'.ilMunde 

149  B.lly  llowt.g* 

}2  T.ie  M  i;imi  Cliio/ 

67  l)..rm.-BM-k«,- 

150  O*l  r«re,tl,.  Pawne* 

C8  CUm   vFcut 

151  Suiall  Pox  Line 

J4  T  lie  Bo  v  Scouts 

».'«  SThu^er'hOrBve 
70  fil.d    Nar.ry,  the  For<«n» 

152  The  \\MtihfulUunter 
153  Fire  Cloud 

;5  M.«d  AnlhonvVCaptaio 
56  Th.;  I  rub.  Hunter 

154  Fronti.rllnnter 

•J7  TlieMask<d  Hunter 

7'.    \.l»^U:M    l.tj'i   *'  !'fV 

l55IIun:erS     uu 

i8  The  Wo«ia,»Tr»pjwr 

167  The  Sh  4ow  BOM  t 

40  Shtd  iw^iH  ibirVc'JT* 

168  Liintt-  rn  Jrfwt.l  Koh 

«41  Tl»e  Urave  lli.y  Huoteww* 

7o'l  ^-r  L>e 

159  The  Shaw  ute  Witqfc 

160  T  :-appe.rJoe 

842  The  Fs  i-s  i  A»etwjer 

f  S  j  .(r*  .'.hi:  l:-|ti  . 

161  rl  he  Mountain  Demo* 

2  ;:j  N\"iU  Tom  o  t  \V  yoaJw, 

••£££<  sfu 

162  Old  1'.  n  ' 

844  A  New  York   Boy  Anmii 
the  Indian* 

'  S2  j'u'xiv'rMf.k 

165  The  MemonCruher 

145              uung    calp 

*3  \\ul 

i^TLeTr^r'.lirid. 

r 

rjoo;<8  «rf  for  «aZ«  by  all  Newsdealers,  and  xent.poftagc  pa'd.  on  receipt  of  price, 
Ten  cent*  each.       (iE(  HGE  HI  I?  Ml  O.  Publisher,  84  Keekmau  St ,  N.  V. 


